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Table · dataset · 2021

Mars moon ephemerides for 14yrs Mars Express data

Listed in IVOA Registry (Virtual Observatory)

The Mars Express (MEX) mission has been successfully operated around Mars since 2004.

Description

Among many results, MEX has provided some of the most accurate astrometric data of the two Mars moons, Phobos and Deimos. We present new ephemerides of the Mars moons benefitting from all previously published astrometric data to the most recent MEX SRC data.

Observations from 1877 until 2018 and including spacecraft measurements from Mariner 9 to MEX were included. Assuming a homogeneous interior, we fitted the forced libration amplitude of Phobos simultaneously with the Martian tidal k2/Q ratio and the initial state of the moons. Our solution of the physical libration 1.09+/-0.01 degrees deviates notably from the homogeneous solution.

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Considering the very low error bar, however, this may essentially suggest the necessity to consider higher order harmonics with an improved rotation model in the future. While most data could be successfully fitted, we found a disagreement between the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter and the Mars Express astrometric data at the kilometer level, probably associated with a biased phase correction. The current solution precision is expected at the level of a few hundred meters for Phobos and several hundred meters for Deimos for the coming years.

The real accuracy of our new ephemerides will have to be confirmed by comparison with independent observational means.

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Documentation and papers

Catalogue records · 2

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Provenance · 1 source records, 7 field assertions
SourceKeyLast seenRaw
IVOA Registry (Virtual Observatory)ivo://cds.vizier/j/a+a/650/a6412 d agoJSON v1
FieldAssertionExtractorEvidence
access_levelsource · IVOA Registryconnector:ivoa_registry@1.0.0
concepts[field].local:field:astronomymapping · IVOA Registryconnector:ivoa_registry@1.0.0
descriptionsource · IVOA Registryconnector:ivoa_registry@1.0.0rr.resource.res_description
license_textsource · IVOA Registryconnector:ivoa_registry@1.0.0
publication_datesource · IVOA Registryconnector:ivoa_registry@1.0.0
titlesource · IVOA Registryconnector:ivoa_registry@1.0.0rr.resource.res_title
updated_datesource · IVOA Registryconnector:ivoa_registry@1.0.0