Internal differentiation and mantle composition of Mimas

✍ Scribed by G. H. A. Cole

• Publisher: Springer Netherlands
• Year: 1986
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 372 KB
• Volume: 35
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 1573-0794
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00058066

✦ Synopsis

An argument is given, based on considerations of moments of inertia and the equatorial location of the large crater Herschel, which implies that Mimas (one of the smallest satellites of the major planets) shows a high degree of internal differentiation (with a silicate-type core but a mantle with a density rather greater than for water-ice alone). Some consequences of these arguments are adduced and possible compositions of the mantle considered.