<abstract xml:lang="en" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"><p>We generalize the basic first order Clairaut formula to the case of a triaxial ellipsoid subject to rotational and tidal deformations from another body. We also prove and put together some relationships involving the gravitational static harmonics and the secular Love number of degree two, which are of wide use in planetary geodesy though difficult to find in textbooks.</p></abstract>

We generalize the basic first order Clairaut formula to the case of a triaxial ellipsoid subject to rotational and tidal deformations from another body. We also prove and put together some relationships involving the gravitational static harmonics and the secular Love number of degree two, which are of wide use in planetary geodesy though difficult to find in textbooks.

A Note on Ellipsoidal Shape and Gravitational Potential First Order Relationships in Planetary Geodesy

Groupe de Recherches de Geodesie Spatiale, O. M. P., 14, Avenue Edouard Belin, 31400 Toulouse, France

Artificial Satellites

We generalize the basic first order Clairaut formula to the case of a triaxial ellipsoid subject to rotational and tidal deformations from another body. We...

A Note on Ellipsoidal Shape and Gravitational Potential First Order Relationships in Planetary Geodesy

Published Online: Jun 23, 2008

Page range: 141 - 147

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10018-008-0006-z

Keywords
Clairaut theory, Ellipsoidal shape, Gravity field harmonics, Love numbers

This content is open access.

A Note on Ellipsoidal Shape and Gravitational Potential First Order Relationships in Planetary Geodesy

Published Online: Jun 23, 2008

Page range: 141 - 147

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2478/v10018-008-0006-z

KeywordsClairaut theory, Ellipsoidal shape, Gravity field harmonics, Love numbers

This content is open access.

Keywords
Clairaut theory, Ellipsoidal shape, Gravity field harmonics, Love numbers