Nature 319, 115 - 120 (09 January 1986); doi:10.1038/319115a0

Masses of the satellites of Uranus

S. F. Dermott & P. D. Nicholson

Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Space Sciences Building, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA

The dynamical theory used to obtain the masses of the uranian satellites from their orbital precession rates contains a fundamental error. The masses can be derived from the precession rates, but a correct analysis of the available data must allow for the fact that the eccentricities, inclinations and precession rates all vary considerably with time, due to mutual secular perturbations.

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