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Inferences from the dynamical history of Mercury's rotationThe history of Mercury's spin angular momentum is reviewed. It is shown that the current nonsynchronous but resonant spin and the nearly zero obliquity place almost no restrictions on the primordial spin state. The only exception comes about from a liquid core-solid mantle interaction which excludes a slow primordial spin concurrent with a large obliquity. The current occupancy of a final evolutionary spin state leads to the description of a scheme by which we can determine the extent of a currently liquid Mercurian core.
Document ID
19760057989
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Peale, S. J.
(California, University Santa Barbara, Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
August 1, 1976
Publication Information
Publication: Icarus
Volume: 28
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
76A40955
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGR-05-010-062
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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