Constraints to Uranus' great collision IV : The origin of Prospero

Context: It is widely accepted that the large obliquity of Uranus is the result of a great tangential collision (GC) with an Earth size proto-planet at the end of the accretion process. The impulse imparted by the GC affected the Uranian satellite system. Nine irregular satellites (irregulars) have...

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Autores principales: Parisi, Mirta Gabriela, Carraro, G., Maris, M., Brunini, Adrián
Formato: Articulo
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: 2008
Materias:
Acceso en línea:http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/2095
http://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2008/17/aa8265-07/aa8265-07.html
Aporte de:
id I19-R120-10915-2095
record_format dspace
institution Universidad Nacional de La Plata
institution_str I-19
repository_str R-120
collection SEDICI (UNLP)
language Inglés
topic Ciencias Astronómicas
Sistema Solar
planetas
planets and satellites
astrofísica
solar system: formation
spellingShingle Ciencias Astronómicas
Sistema Solar
planetas
planets and satellites
astrofísica
solar system: formation
Parisi, Mirta Gabriela
Carraro, G.
Maris, M.
Brunini, Adrián
Constraints to Uranus' great collision IV : The origin of Prospero
topic_facet Ciencias Astronómicas
Sistema Solar
planetas
planets and satellites
astrofísica
solar system: formation
description Context: It is widely accepted that the large obliquity of Uranus is the result of a great tangential collision (GC) with an Earth size proto-planet at the end of the accretion process. The impulse imparted by the GC affected the Uranian satellite system. Nine irregular satellites (irregulars) have been discovered around Uranus. Their orbital and physical properties, in particular those of the irregular Prospero, set constraints on the GC scenario. Aims: We attempt to set constraints on the GC scenario as the cause of Uranus' obliquity as well as on the mechanisms able to generate the Uranian irregulars. Methods: Different capture mechanisms for irregulars operate at different stages on the giant planet formation process. The mechanisms able to capture before and after the GC the Uranian irregulars are analysed. Assuming that they were captured before the GC, we calculate the orbital transfer of the nine irregulars by the impulse imparted by the GC. If their orbital transfer is dynamically implausible, they should have originated after the GC. We then investigate and discuss the dissipative mechanisms able to operate later. Results: Very few transfers exist for five of the irregulars, which makes their existence unlikely before the GC. In particular Prospero could not exist at the time of the GC. Different capture mechanisms for Prospero after the GC are investigated. Gas drag by Uranus'envelope and pull-down capture are not plausible mechanisms. Capture of Prospero through a collisionless interaction seems to be difficult. The GC itself provides a mechanism of permanent capture. However, the capture of Prospero by the GC is a low probability event. Catastrophic collisions could be a possible mechanism for the birth of Prospero and the other irregulars after the GC. Orbital and physical clusterings would then be expected. Conclusions: Either Prospero originated after the GC or the GC did not occur. In the former case, the mechanism for the origin of Prospero after the GC remains an open question. An observing program able to look for dynamical and physical families is needed. In the latter case, another theory to account for Uranus' obliquity and the formation of the Uranian regular satellites on the equatorial plane of the planet would be needed.
format Articulo
Articulo
author Parisi, Mirta Gabriela
Carraro, G.
Maris, M.
Brunini, Adrián
author_facet Parisi, Mirta Gabriela
Carraro, G.
Maris, M.
Brunini, Adrián
author_sort Parisi, Mirta Gabriela
title Constraints to Uranus' great collision IV : The origin of Prospero
title_short Constraints to Uranus' great collision IV : The origin of Prospero
title_full Constraints to Uranus' great collision IV : The origin of Prospero
title_fullStr Constraints to Uranus' great collision IV : The origin of Prospero
title_full_unstemmed Constraints to Uranus' great collision IV : The origin of Prospero
title_sort constraints to uranus' great collision iv : the origin of prospero
publishDate 2008
url http://sedici.unlp.edu.ar/handle/10915/2095
http://www.aanda.org/articles/aa/abs/2008/17/aa8265-07/aa8265-07.html
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