Consequences of a New Experimental Determination of the Quadrupole Moment of the Sun for Gravitation Theory

Abstract

A preliminary experimental determination by Hill, Bos, and Goode of the interior rotation of the sun leads to a nonzero value for the quadrupole moment coefficient ${J}_{2}$. This produces a deviation of 1.6% from Einstein's prediction of the precession of the perihelion of Mercury. A nonsymmetric gravitational theory can fit the measured precession with this ${J}_{2}$ and all other solar-system relativity experiments for one value of a post-Newtonian parameter in the theory. A prediction is made for the perihelion precession of Icarus.