Dynamical History of the Uranian System
Matija \'Cuk, Maryame El Moutamid, Matthew S. Tiscareno

TL;DR
This study uses numerical simulations to explore the tidal evolution of Uranus's five large moons, revealing how past resonances influenced their inclinations, eccentricities, and internal heating, with implications for their geological features.
Contribution
It provides the first detailed simulation-based analysis of the moons' dynamical history, highlighting the role of the Ariel-Umbriel 5:3 MMR in shaping current orbital and geological characteristics.
Findings
Ariel-Umbriel 5:3 MMR significantly affected the system.
Miranda's inclination and heating linked to this resonance.
Resonances influenced current orbital inclinations and spin states.
Abstract
We numerically simulate the past tidal evolution of the five large moons of Uranus (Miranda, Ariel, Umbriel, Titania, and Oberon). We find that the most recent major mean-motion resonance (MMR) between any two moons, the Ariel-Umbriel 5:3 MMR, had a large effect on the whole system. Our results suggest that this resonance is responsible for the current 4.3 inclination of Miranda (instead of previously proposed 3:1 Miranda-Umbriel MMR), and that all five moons had their inclinations excited during this resonance. Miranda experienced significant tidal heating during the Ariel-Umbriel 5:3 MMR due to its eccentricity being excited by Ariel's secular perturbations. This tidal heating draws energy from shrinking of Miranda's orbit, rather than Ariel's outward evolution, and can generate heat flows in excess of 100 mW m, sufficient to produce young coronae on Miranda. We find…
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