oblateness = C * [R^3/(M * P^2)] where C is a constant that depends on the mass distribution of the body in question, so it varies a bit among the gas giants.

What is the oblateness of Jupiter?

Unlike the inner planets, Jupiter is not a solid body, but instead is a ball of gas and liquid (mostly hydrogen and helium). Jupiter has an oblateness of about 6%, which means that the equatorial diameter is 6% greater than the polar diameter.

What is the oblateness of Earth?

Since the Earth is flattened at the poles and bulges at the Equator, geodesy represents the figure of the Earth as an oblate spheroid. The oblate spheroid, or oblate ellipsoid, is an ellipsoid of revolution obtained by rotating an ellipse about its shorter axis.

What causes Oblateness in planets?

Rotation causes a planet's shape to be flattened or oblate by reducing the effective gravitational acceleration at the equator (as a result of centrifugal acceleration) and by redis- tributing mass within the planet (which changes the gravity field).

How do scientists know what a planet is made of?

Each element absorbs light at specific wavelengths unique to that atom. When astronomers look at an object's spectrum, they can determine its composition based on these wavelengths. The most common method astronomers use to determine the composition of stars, planets, and other objects is spectroscopy.

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42 related questions found

How do we know planets have cores?

Cores of the rocky planets

The cores of other planets cannot be measured using seismometers on their surface, so instead they have to be inferred based on calculations from these fly-by observation. Mass and size can provide a first-order calculation of the components that make up the interior of a planetary body.

What is the Roche limit of Saturn?

Roche limit, in astronomy, the minimum distance to which a large satellite can approach its primary body without tidal forces overcoming the internal gravity holding the satellite together. The rings of Saturn lie inside Saturn's Roche limit and may be the debris of a demolished moon. ...

What is prolate and oblate?

If the ellipse is rotated about its major axis, the result is a prolate (elongated) spheroid, shaped like an American football or rugby ball. If the ellipse is rotated about its minor axis, the result is an oblate (flattened) spheroid, shaped like a lentil or a plain M&M.

What are parallels of latitude and meridians of longitude?

Complete answer: Parallels of latitude are the circles which are parallels from the equator to the poles whereas the lines of reference running from the North Pole to the South Pole are called meridians of longitude. ... The meridian which passes through Greenwich is also known as Prime Meridian.

What accounts for Oblateness of outer planets?

Oblateness. This is how much the planet is flattened because of its rotation. ... Mercury and Venus rotate too slowly to be oblate. The Gas Giants, being gaseous and fast rotators have a high oblateness.

What is the Jovian belt?

Anyways, the lighter colored bands in the Jovian planets are called zones, and the darker colored bands are called belts. ... This implies that the belts are lower in the planet's atmosphere than the zones. Additionally, high winds circulate near the high pressure areas (zones) and the low pressure areas (belts).

How are parallels of latitude measured?

Parallels of latitudes can be referred to as the parallel circles from the equator up to the poles. They are usually measured in degrees. ... Its distance from the equator to either of the poles is almost one-fourth of a circle round the earth, it will measure ¼th of 360 degrees, that is 90°.

How many parallels are drawn on the earth?

Explanation: The Earth is divided by the Equator into two equal halves known as the Northern Hemisphere (with 90 parallels) and the Southern Hemisphere (with 90 parallels). These 180 parallels along with the Equator make a total of 181 parallels across the globe.

What is the latitudinal value of North Pole and South Pole?

The latitude of the North Pole is 90 degrees N, and the latitude of the South Pole is 90 degrees S.

Is the cornea oblate or prolate?

Understanding the Shape

The shape of a normal cornea can be described as a prolate ellipse. This means that the steepest radii of curvature is central or apical.

Is the earth oblate or prolate?

To be more precise, the earth rotates about its shortest axis, or minor axis, and is therefore described as an oblate ellipsoid. The earth is not a perfect sphere but an oblate ellipsoid. If it rotated about its major (longer) axis, it would be described as a prolate ellipsoid.

Why is ammonia oblate?

Due to the symmetry and relative magnitudes of the moments of inertia around these axes, ammonia is called an oblate symmetric top (Figure 3).

How close is Charon to Pluto's Roche limit?

The distance between them is 19,640 kilometers (12,200 miles). The Hubble Space Telescope photographed Pluto and Charon in 1994 when Pluto was about 30 AU from Earth. These photos showed that Charon is grayer than Pluto (which is red), indicating that they have different surface compositions and structure.

Do black holes have Roche limits?

Yes, just like any body, there would be a Roche limit for something orbiting a black hole. The Roche limit is also a property of the satellite. ... The Roche limit of a big object is the point where it pulls a small object apart. Black holes may or may not do this depending on size.

Does the moon have a core?

Uncovering details about the lunar core is critical for developing accurate models of the moon's formation. ... The team's findings suggest the moon possesses a solid, iron-rich inner core with a radius of nearly 150 miles and a fluid, primarily liquid-iron outer core with a radius of roughly 205 miles.

Are all planets hot inside?

In gas giants, gravitational energy is the main source of heat, Saturn has an internal temperature of about 21000°C, Jupiter is higher, 35000°C in some models. Terrestrial planet's cores are heated by radioactive decay. Earth has a core temperature of about 6000°C. Smaller bodies have cooler temperatures.

Do all planets have molten cores?

The short answer is no. Take Mercury for example in this comparison of Earth Mercury core. Mercury is thought to have a liquid outer core and solid inner core.

How do you measure latitude?

It's possible to measure latitude by comparing your position on Earth with the position of either the sun or the North Star (Polaris). Measurements using the sun are possible on a clear day in the northern or southern hemispheres, when the sun is easy to find.