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Encyclopedia of Astrobiology pp 905–906Cite as

Laplace Resonance

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Definition

The Laplace resonance among orbiting bodies is a series of two consecutive 2:1 mean motion resonances, making a 4:2:1 period ratio among three bodies in orbit. The Galilean satellites Io, Europa, and Ganymede are in the Laplace resonance. This commensurability was first pointed out by Pierre-Simon Laplace, and now bears his name. This interaction prevents the orbits of the satellites from becoming perfectly circular (due to tidal interactions with Jupiter), and therefore permits tidal heating of Io and Europa. Recently, an extrasolar planetary system, Gliese 876, was found to contain a Laplace resonance among three orbiting planets.

See also

Mean Motion Resonance

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Astronomy Department, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, Box 351580, 98196, USA

    Dr. Rory Barnes

Authors
  1. Dr. Rory Barnes
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Correspondence to Rory Barnes .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Astrophysicist, Laboratoire d’Astrophysique de Bordeaux, BP 89, 33270, Floirac, France

    Muriel Gargaud

  2. Departamento de Planetología y Habitabilidad Centro de Astrobiología (CSIC-INTA), Universidad Autónoma de Madrid Campus Cantoblanco, Torrejón de Ardoz, 28049, Madrid, Spain

    Ricardo Amils

  3. Department of Astrophysics, Centro de Astrobiología (INTA-CSIC) Ctra de Ajalvir km 4, 28850 Torrejón de Ardoz, Madrid, Spain

    José Cernicharo Quintanilla

  4. Geophysical Laboratory, Carnegie Institution of Washington, 5251 Broad Branch Rd. NW, Washington, DC, 20015, USA

    Henderson James (Jim) Cleaves II

  5. Department of Astronomy, University of Massachusetts Lederle Graduate Research, 710 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, MA, 01003-9305, USA

    William M. Irvine

  6. GEOTOP & Départment des Sciences de la Terre et de l’Atmosphère, Université du Québec à Montréal, CP 8888, succ. Centre-Ville, Montréal, QC, H3C 3P8, Canada

    Daniele L. Pinti

  7. Astrobiology, CNES/DSP/EU, 2 place Maurice-Quentin, 75039, Paris, France

    Michel Viso

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© 2011 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

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Barnes, R. (2011). Laplace Resonance. In: Gargaud, M., et al. Encyclopedia of Astrobiology. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-11274-4_864

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