Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Simultaneous solution for the masses of the principal planets from analysis of optical, radar, and radio tracking data

  • Published:
Celestial mechanics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

The Jet Propulsion Laboratory has developed a set of computer programs known as the Solar System Data Processing System (SSDPS) which is employed in improving the ephemerides of the major planets and for improving the values of several associated astronomical constants. A group of solutions for the masses of the major planets, together with the AU and radii of Mercury, Venus, and Mars, is presented. These solutions based upon optical, radar, and spacecraft radio tracking data are preliminary. The relative power of radar and radio tracking data vis-à-vis purely optical data in a solution is shown. The problems which could arise by adopting solutions based upon a single data type are demonstrated.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Adams, A. N. and Scott, D. K.: 1964, ‘Observations of the Sun, Moon, and Planets; Six-Inch Transit Circle Results, March 8, 1963-July 2, 1964’, U.S. Naval Obs., Washington, Circular No. 105.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams, A. N. and Scott, D. K.: 1965, ‘Observations of the Sun, Moon, and Planets; Six-Inch Transit Circle Results, July 7, 1964-Dec. 24, 1964; U.S. Naval Obs., Washington, Circular No. 108.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams, A. N. and Scott, D. K.: 1967a, ‘Observations of the Sun, Moon, and Planets; Six-Inch Transit Circle Results, Jan. 11, 1965-April 11, 1966’, U.S. Naval Obs. Washington. Circular No. 115.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams, A. N. and Scott, D. K.: 1968,Publ. U.S. Naval Obs. Washington, Second Series, Vol.19, 333–80.

    Google Scholar 

  • Adams, A. N. and Scott, D. K.: 1969, ‘Observations of the Sun, Moon, and Planets; Six-Inch Transit Circle Results, July 12, 1967-June 25, 1968’,U.S. Naval Obs. Washington Circular No. 124.

  • Adams, A. N., Bestal, S. M., and Scott, D. K.: 1964,Publ. U.S. Naval Obs., Washington, Second Series, Vol.19, 47–110.

    Google Scholar 

  • Anderson, J. D. and Efron, L.: 1969,Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 1, 231.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Broucke, R.: 1969,Celes. Mech. 1, 110.

    Article  ADS  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Broucke, R. and Garthwaite, K.: 1969,Celest. Mech. 1, 271.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Cohen, Charles J., Hubbard, Elbert C., and Oesterwinter, C.: 1967,Astron. J. 72, 973.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Duncombe, R. L., Klepczynski, W. J., and Seidelmann, P. K.: 1968,Astron. J. 73, 830.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Dyce, R. B. and Pettengill, G. H.: 1967,Astron. J. 72, 771.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Eckert, W. J. and Brouwer, D.: 1937,Astron. J. 46, 125; errata47, 83.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Eddington, A. S.: 1960,The Mathematical Theory of Relativity, Cambridge Univ. Press, New York, 2nd edition, p. 93.

    Google Scholar 

  • Efroymson, M. A.: 1960, ‘Multiple Regression Analysis’, Chap. 17 inMath. Methods for Digital Computers, Vol. I (ed. by A. Ralston and H. S. Wilf), John Wiley, N. Y., p. 191.

    Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J. V. et al.: 1965,Astron. J. 70, 486.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Evans, J. V. et al.: 1966,Astron. J. 71, 897.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Goldstein, R. M.: 1968,Astron. J. 73, 829.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hammond, J. C. and Watts, C. B.: 1927,Publ. U.S. Naval Obs. Washington, Second Series, Vol.11, pp. 153–79.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Hanson, R. J. and Lawson, C. L.: 1969,Math. Comp. 23, 787.

    Article  MathSciNet  Google Scholar 

  • Hartree, D. R.: 1961,Numerical Analysis, Clarendon Press, Oxford, p. 180.

    Google Scholar 

  • Klock, B. L. and Scott, D. K.: 1970, ‘Observations of the Sun, Moon, and Planets; Six-Inch Transit Circle Results, June 30, 1968-July 17, 1969’, U.S. Naval Obs. Washington.Circular No. 127.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melbourne, W. G.: 1970, ‘The Determination of Planetary Masses from Radio Tracking of Space Probes and Planetary Radar’ inDynamics of Satellites (1969) (ed. by B. Morando), Springer Verlag, Berlin, p. 63.

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, H. R.: 1933,Publ. U. S. naval Obs. Washington, Second Series, Vol.13, 101–55.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Morgan, H. R. and Scott, F. P.: 1948,Publ. U.S. Naval Obs. Washington, Second Series, Vol.15.

  • Muhleman, D. O. et al.: 1968,JPL Radar Range and Doppler Observations of Venus, 1961–1966, Technical Report 32-1123, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., July 1.

    Google Scholar 

  • Null, G. W.: 1969,Bull. Am. Astron. Soc. 1, 356.

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  • O'Handley, D. A.: 1968,Card Format for Optical and Radar Planetary Data, Technical Report 32-1296, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

    Google Scholar 

  • O'Handley, D. A., Holdridge, D. B., Melbourne, W. G., and Mulholland, J. D.: 1969,JPL Development Ephemeris 69, Technical Report 32-1465, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.

    Google Scholar 

  • Pettengill, G. H., Dyce, R. B., and Campbell, D. B.: 1967,Astron. J. 72, 330.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Pettengill, G. H. et al.: 1969,Astron. J. 74, 461.

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  • Private Communication: 1967, Millstone and Haystack Observatories, ‘1967 Venus Observations’, Smith, W., Lincoln Laboratory with Melbourne, W. G., JPL, October.

  • Private Communication: 1968, Haystack Observatory, ‘1967–1968 Mercury Observations’, Shapiro, I. I., MIT with O'Handley, D. A., JPL, October 28.

  • Robertson, H. P.: 1962,Space Age Astronomy (ed. by A. J. Deutsch and W. E. Klemperer), Academic Press, N.Y., p. 228.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tausworthe, R. C.: 1967, ‘Ranging the 1967 Mariner to Venus’, Paper No. 36.4, 1967, IEEE International Conf. Record, New York, March 20–23.

  • Watts, C. B. and Adams, A. N.: 1949,Publ. U.S. Naval Obs. Washington, Second Series, Vol.16, 59–203.

    Google Scholar 

  • Watts, C. B., Scott, F. P., and Adams, A. N.: 1952,Publ. U.S. Naval Obs. Washington, Second Series, Vol.16, 395–445.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif., U.S.A.

    J. H. Lieske, W. G. Melbourne, D. A. O'Handley, D. B. Holdridge, D. E. Johnson & W. S. Sinclair

Authors
  1. J. H. Lieske
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. W. G. Melbourne
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. A. O'Handley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. D. B. Holdridge
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. D. E. Johnson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. W. S. Sinclair
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This paper presents the results of one phase of research carried out at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, under Contract No. NAS 7-100, sponsored by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Lieske, J.H., Melbourne, W.G., O'Handley, D.A. et al. Simultaneous solution for the masses of the principal planets from analysis of optical, radar, and radio tracking data. Celestial Mechanics 4, 233–245 (1971). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01228826

Download citation

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01228826

Keywords

Search

Navigation