Authors: Veillet C.
Year: 1983
Title: 1980-81 observations of Miranda - New orbit and mass of Ariel and Umbriel
Journal: Astronomy and Astrophysics
Volume: 118
Number: 2
Pages: 211-216
Keywords: Uranus, major, observation, theory, analytical, data, analysis, photographic, position
Abstract: A total of 112 position measurements of the Uranus moon Miranda were made in order to determine the osculating elements as well as obtain mass products of the moons Umbriel and Ariel. A least squares computer program yielded the initial longitude, eccentricity, longitude of the pericenter, the inclination, the longitude of the node, and the semi-major axis. The epoch was calculated to be 1950.0, and the secular motion of the node of the Miranda orbital plane was attributed to perturbations of the other satellites and the oblateness of Uranus. The diameters of Ariel and Umbriel, as well as their densities, were computed from the thermal fluxes and broadband visual brightness measurements. The period of nodal precession was found to be about 18 yr. The data are considered useful for developing ephemerides prior to the Voyager flyby in 1986.
%F: AA(Centre d'Etudes et de Recherches Geodynamiques et Astronomiques, Grasse, Alpes-Maritimes, France)
Bibliogaphic Code: 1983A%26A...118..211V
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