Suppose Mercury had 5-to-3 spin-orbit coupling and that its sidereal period remained 88 days,as now.You observe the Sun directly overhead in the Mercurian sky and then observe again from the same location 88 days later.Where will the Sun be in the sky? (Mercury,like Earth,rotates toward the east.)

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

With a 5-to-3 spin-orbit coupling, Mercury rotates 5 times for every 3 orbits around the Sun. In 88 days (one orbit), Mercury would rotate 5/3 times. This means the Sun will appear to have moved eastward, ending up below the eastern horizon.

Suppose Mercury Had 5-To-3 Spin-Orbit Coupling and That Its Sidereal