Geosynchronous near Venus surface

MarsDog · 2004-03-30 03:27:48

I am wondering what would Venus look like if it were spinning fast, so that geosynchronous orbit was only a few hundred miles above the surface.
I can see that part of the atmosphere would migrate, slowing down the rotation; But how even would the disk of gas be ?
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I could not find any mathematical modeling on this.

dicktice · 2004-03-30 09:17:25

I've, since first learning about it, always wondered what the cause of Venus's slow rotation rate might be. What a bummer, on top of the pretty well hopeless atmosphere! Venus probes have done their job, and they've certainly made Mars seem an "attractive proposition" by comparison. So let's stop fooling around with more Venus probes for now, given the limited resources allowed space exploration, and devote them towards getting to Mars asap!

John Creighton · 2004-03-30 10:22:46

It can be explained by general relativity. Unforunatly, I am not sure how.

kippy · 2004-03-30 11:18:24

It can be explained by general relativity. Unforunatly, I am not sure how.

I think you're thinking of Mecury's strange orbit. I also can't explain it but it involves relativity and it made sense when I heard about it.

As for Venus' long day, I think that's just the luck of the draw during formation. If we had evolved on Venus with a 4 month day, we would be posting ideas of how to slow down Earth so we wouldn't go crazy with such a quick day.

MarsDog · 2004-03-30 11:23:32

Yes Mars is possible in a few decades, while Venus will remain just a thought experiment.
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If rotation of Venus was speeded up, and most of the atmosphere in geosynchronous orbit, then it would block the sun fom the equatorial surface, while radiating heat.
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Even faster rotation with geosynchronous below the surface;
Would that flatten Venus into a shape similar to a galaxy, the core of the planet accessible, or form an unstable doughnut ?

dicktice · 2004-03-30 19:12:48

Could the explaination for Venus's slow rotation be as simple as its closer proximity to the Sun? Hard to believe, since Earth isn't all that much further out--and without a large Moon like ours to slow it down. Mercury's a no-brainer, but Venus being the only other planet without an appreciable rotation rate appears strange to me.

MarsDog · 2004-03-31 02:22:11

Venus formed from multiple collisions, somehow it all added up to the present angular momentum. From statistical mechanics, is there a preferred rate of rotation ?
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I have been puzzling over what happens to a fast spinning planet. My guess is that sufficient internal frictional forces provide stability, beyond that clumping occurs, becomes a N body problem which then degenerates to the stable 2 or 1.
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Could a planet be stable when it is spinning so fast that the iron core is exposed, allowing easy mining ?

dicktice · 2004-03-31 08:23:04

Preferred rotation is 24 hours per revolution, naturally, to correspond with our collective (body, etc.) clocks on Earth. I know--you didn't mean that, but your word "preferred" was too tempting to ignore.

Mind explaining N body problem, and your conclusions regarding such?

Once again, I can't resist: If spinning that fast, you'd be advised to mine the ore from inside, while standing on the roof of the tunnel. Sorry for that.

MarsDog · 2004-04-01 06:09:03

In general, 3 or more mutually orbiting bodies form an unstable system, crash into each other. That is the reason for binary asteroids; something hit an asteroid, the fragments collided till only 2 were left.
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Interesting thought experiment to spin a planet in order to stratify, according to density. The less dense would migrate away from the center, while the iron core, at the center would be accessible from the poles.
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The heavy iron core would be stable, while the lighter outer parts might become unstable, similar to weather patterns ?
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You are right abaut the tunnel (doughtnut) - it would be unstable.

Gregori · 2008-04-06 02:11:42

you need a very long lever

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#1 2004-03-30 03:27:48

Re: Geosynchronous near Venus surface

#2 2004-03-30 09:17:25

Re: Geosynchronous near Venus surface

#3 2004-03-30 10:22:46

Re: Geosynchronous near Venus surface

#4 2004-03-30 11:18:24

Re: Geosynchronous near Venus surface

#5 2004-03-30 11:23:32

Re: Geosynchronous near Venus surface

#6 2004-03-30 19:12:48

Re: Geosynchronous near Venus surface

#7 2004-03-31 02:22:11

Re: Geosynchronous near Venus surface

#8 2004-03-31 08:23:04

Re: Geosynchronous near Venus surface

#9 2004-04-01 06:09:03

Re: Geosynchronous near Venus surface

#10 2008-04-06 02:11:42

Re: Geosynchronous near Venus surface

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