title: Rotation of mercury: theoretical analysis of the dynamics of a rigid ellipsoidal planet.
abstract: The second-order nonlinear differential equation for the rotation of Mercury implies locked-in motion when the period is within the range where e is the eccentricity and T is the period of Mercury's orbit, the time t is measured from perihelion, and lambda is a measure of the planet's disiortion. For values near 2T/3, the instantaneous period oscillates about 2T/3 with period (21lambdae/2)T.
authors.forename: L J
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Laslett
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Sessler