The rotation of Europa

Richard Greenberg; Gregory V. Hoppa; Paul Geissler; Alyssa Sarid; B. R. Tufts

doi:10.1023/A:1020118427477

The rotation of Europa

Richard Greenberg, Gregory V. Hoppa, Paul Geissler, Alyssa Sarid, B. R. Tufts

Arizona State University

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

11 Scopus citations

Abstract

Theoretical predictions of non-synchronous rotation and of polar wander on Europa have been tested by comparing tectonic features observed in Voyager and Galileo spacecraft images with tidal stresses. Evidence for non-synchronous rotation comes from studying changes in global scale lineaments formed over time, from the character of strike-slip faults, and from comparison of distinctively shaped cycloidal cracks with the longitudes at which such shapes should have formed, in theory. The study of cycloids constrains the rotation period (relative to the direction of Jupiter) to less than 250 000 years, while direct comparison of the orientation of Europa in Voyager and Galileo images shows the rotation is slow, with a period of > 12 000 years. Comparison of strike-slip faults with their theoretical locations of formation provides evidence for substantial polar wander, supported by the distribution of various thermally produced features.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	35-47
Number of pages	13
Journal	Celestial Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy
Volume	83
Issue number	1-4
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1020118427477
State	Published - 2002

Keywords

Europa
Rotation
Tides

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Modeling and Simulation
Mathematical Physics
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Space and Planetary Science
Computational Mathematics
Applied Mathematics

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title = "The rotation of Europa",

abstract = "Theoretical predictions of non-synchronous rotation and of polar wander on Europa have been tested by comparing tectonic features observed in Voyager and Galileo spacecraft images with tidal stresses. Evidence for non-synchronous rotation comes from studying changes in global scale lineaments formed over time, from the character of strike-slip faults, and from comparison of distinctively shaped cycloidal cracks with the longitudes at which such shapes should have formed, in theory. The study of cycloids constrains the rotation period (relative to the direction of Jupiter) to less than 250 000 years, while direct comparison of the orientation of Europa in Voyager and Galileo images shows the rotation is slow, with a period of > 12 000 years. Comparison of strike-slip faults with their theoretical locations of formation provides evidence for substantial polar wander, supported by the distribution of various thermally produced features.",

keywords = "Europa, Rotation, Tides",

author = "Richard Greenberg and Hoppa, {Gregory V.} and Paul Geissler and Alyssa Sarid and Tufts, {B. R.}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported by a grant from NASA{\textquoteright}s Planetary Geology and Geophysics program. We thank David Stevenson for a helpful review and Terry Hurford for help with the manuscript.",

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AU - Greenberg, Richard

AU - Hoppa, Gregory V.

AU - Geissler, Paul

AU - Sarid, Alyssa

AU - Tufts, B. R.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported by a grant from NASA’s Planetary Geology and Geophysics program. We thank David Stevenson for a helpful review and Terry Hurford for help with the manuscript.

PY - 2002

Y1 - 2002

N2 - Theoretical predictions of non-synchronous rotation and of polar wander on Europa have been tested by comparing tectonic features observed in Voyager and Galileo spacecraft images with tidal stresses. Evidence for non-synchronous rotation comes from studying changes in global scale lineaments formed over time, from the character of strike-slip faults, and from comparison of distinctively shaped cycloidal cracks with the longitudes at which such shapes should have formed, in theory. The study of cycloids constrains the rotation period (relative to the direction of Jupiter) to less than 250 000 years, while direct comparison of the orientation of Europa in Voyager and Galileo images shows the rotation is slow, with a period of > 12 000 years. Comparison of strike-slip faults with their theoretical locations of formation provides evidence for substantial polar wander, supported by the distribution of various thermally produced features.

AB - Theoretical predictions of non-synchronous rotation and of polar wander on Europa have been tested by comparing tectonic features observed in Voyager and Galileo spacecraft images with tidal stresses. Evidence for non-synchronous rotation comes from studying changes in global scale lineaments formed over time, from the character of strike-slip faults, and from comparison of distinctively shaped cycloidal cracks with the longitudes at which such shapes should have formed, in theory. The study of cycloids constrains the rotation period (relative to the direction of Jupiter) to less than 250 000 years, while direct comparison of the orientation of Europa in Voyager and Galileo images shows the rotation is slow, with a period of > 12 000 years. Comparison of strike-slip faults with their theoretical locations of formation provides evidence for substantial polar wander, supported by the distribution of various thermally produced features.

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KW - Rotation

KW - Tides

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The rotation of Europa

Abstract

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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