<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

Publié en ligne: 23 juin 2008

Pages: 141 - 147

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

Mots clés
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

Publié en ligne: 23 juin 2008

Pages: 141 - 147

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

Mots clésClairaut theory, Ellipsoidal shape, Gravity field harmonics, Love numbers

This content is open access.

Mots clés
Clairaut theory, Ellipsoidal shape, Gravity field harmonics, Love numbers