Masses of the Planets and Satellites

Abstract

This paper reviews work by P. K. Seidelmann, W. J. Klepczynski, and the author on the general problem of the determination of the masses of the principal planets by systematic comparison of observations with theory. It also presents a complete compilation of the published values of planetary and satellite mass determinations (see Tables I and II). A provisional discussion of the values of the masses of the principal planets was presented at IAU Colloquium No. 9, Heidelberg, August

1970 (Klepczynski et al., 1971). The present paper comprises a critical discussion of all previous determinations of the planetary and satellite masses and their use in the formation of a final set which may be adopted as the basis for new planetary and satellite ephemerides (Duncombe et al., 1973). The following tables summarize the derived values of the planetary and satellite masses.