• DOI:10.1038/208575A0
Corpus ID: 4213296

Rotational Period of the Planet Mercury

@article{Colombo1965RotationalPO,
  title={Rotational Period of the Planet Mercury},
  author={G. Colombo},
  journal={Nature},
  year={1965},
  volume={208},
  pages={575-575}
}

G. Colombo

Published 1965

Physics

Nature

IN a recent communication by S. J. Peale and T. Gold1 the rotational period of Mercury, determined from radar Doppler-spread measurements to be 59 ± 5 days2, has been explained in terms of a solar tidal torque effect, taking into account the large eccentricity of Mercury's orbit, and the 1/r6 dependence of the tidal friction (r being the Sun–planet distance). They conclude from a very brief discussion that after slowing down from a higher direct angular velocity, the planet will have a final… CONTINUE READING

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