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Rotation and Heating of the Planet Mercury

Nature volume 214, pages 1315–1316 (1967)Cite this article

Abstract

RECENT radar observations1 and subsequent discussions2,3 indicate that the rotational period of Mercury may be coupled4 to its orbital period in the ratio 2 : 3. Here we examine the insolation and surface temperatures that would result from such coupling and consider some observable consequences.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York

    STEVEN SOTER & JURIS ULRICHS

Authors
  1. STEVEN SOTER
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  2. JURIS ULRICHS
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SOTER, S., ULRICHS, J. Rotation and Heating of the Planet Mercury. Nature 214, 1315–1316 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/2141315a0

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