Triaxiality of satellites and small bodies in the Solar System

Abstract

The triaxial figures are very common shape of most of planetary satellites as well as of smaell bodies as asteroids. There are 21 satellites in the Solar System triaxial figures of which were detected in situ evidently (Davies et al., 1995). However, the total number of triaxiaxial satellites in the Solar System should be in fact larger. In this paper the general theory of triaxiality due to tidal forces is discussed in regard to the very recent numerical data. Since they orbit synchronously, as a rule: their orbital periods are equal to the rotational periods,the tidal forces may be responsible for their triaxial figures. On the other hand the origin of triaxiality of asteroids due to another process and the of their figures cannot be axplained by the tidal effects.