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Article
Nature 319, 115-120 (9 January 1986) | doi:10.1038/319115a0; Accepted 31 October 1985
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
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Abstract
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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