The motion of the Martian satellites

Abstract

An extensive analysis of the motion of Phobos and Deimos from 1877 to 1973 has been fulfilled. The new values of the parameters of the orbital model first developed by Struve have been determined for both satellites. The new sets of the orbital parameters compete with the solutions of similar accuracy found by Wilkins and Sinclair. A secular acceleration in longitude of Phobos is found to be equal to +(0.107±0.011)×10−7 deg day−2. The value of the acceleration is little affected when one or another group of oppositions is omitted. The acceleration of Deimos is determined with great uncertainty: +(0.06±0.34)×10−9 deg day−2. Values found for the orbital parameters seem to be in good agreement since the mass, oblateness and coordinates of the pole of Mars inferred from the motion of each satellite have similar values in both cases.