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Science 9 August 1991:
Vol. 253. no. 5020, pp. 648 - 651
DOI: 10.1126/science.253.5020.648
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Articles

Interior Structure of Neptune: Comparison with Uranus

W. B. HUBBARD 1, W. J. NELLIS 2, A. C. MITCHELL 2, N. C. HOLMES 2, S. S. LIMAYE 3, and P. C. MCCANDLESS 2

1 Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, Umnversity of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721
2 University of California, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550
3 Space Science and Engineering Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, 1225 West Dayton Street, Madison, WI 53706

Measurements of rotation rates and gravitational harmonics of Neptune made with the Voyager 2 spacecraft allow tighter constraints on models of the planet's interior. Shock measurements of material that may match the composition of Neptune, the so-calied planetary ``ice,'' have been carried out to pressures exceeding 200 gigapascals (2 megabars). Comparison of shock data with inferred pressure-density profiles for both Uranus and Neptune shows substantial similarity through most of the mass of both planets. Analysis of the effect of Neptune's strong differential rotation on its gravitational harmonics indicates that differential rotation involves only the outermost few percent of Neptune's mass.

Submitted on May 1, 1991
Accepted on July 5, 1991


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