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Revisiting the Cassini States of synchronous satellites with an angular momentum approach

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 October 2024

Alexis Coyette Open the ORCID record for Alexis Coyette [Opens in a new window] ,
Rose-Marie Baland Open the ORCID record for Rose-Marie Baland [Opens in a new window]  and
Tim Van Hoolst
Alexis Coyette*
Affiliation:
Naxys Institute, Namur University, Namur, Belgium
Rose-Marie Baland
Affiliation:
Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
Tim Van Hoolst
Affiliation:
Royal Observatory of Belgium, Brussels, Belgium
*
email: [email protected]
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Abstract

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Like our Moon, the large icy satellites of Jupiter are thought to be in a Cassini State, an equilibrium rotation state characterized by a synchronous rotation rate and a precession rate of the rotation axis equal to that of the normal to the orbit. In these equilibrium states (up to four Cassini States are possible for a solid and rigid satellite), the spin axis of the satellite, the normal to its orbit and the normal to the inertial plane remain coplanar with an obliquity that remains theoretically constant. However, as the gravitational torque exerted on the satellite shows small periodic variations, the orientation of the rotation axis will also vary with time and nutations in obliquity will appear.

Here we present a dynamical model for the study of the Cassini States. This model includes the coupling between the polar motion and the spin axis precession/nutation which is neglected in the classical studies. We study the influence of the triaxiality of Ganymede on its four possible Cassini States, use a Toy model of the Moon to illustrate the nutations in obliquity obtained with the dynamical model, and investigate the influence of the presence of a subsurface ocean on the Cassini State I of Europa.

Keywords

ObliquityCassini StatesIcy Satellites
Type
Contributed Paper
Information
Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union , Volume 18 , Symposium S382: Complex Planetary Systems II: Latest Methods for an Interdisciplinary Approach , December 2022 , pp. 73 - 79
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of International Astronomical Union

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