- Campbell, Bruce A;
- Campbell, Donald B;
- Carter, Lynn M;
- Chandler, John F;
- Giorgini, Jon D;
- Margot, Jean-Luc;
- Morgan, Gareth A;
- Nolan, Michael C;
- Perillat, Phillip J;
- Whitten, Jennifer L
We measured the length of the Venus sidereal day (LOD) from Earth-based radar observations collected from 1988 to 2017, using offsets in surface feature longitudes from a prediction based on a 243.0185d period derived from analysis of Magellan mission images over a 487-day interval. We derive a mean LOD over 29 years of 243.0212 ± 0.0006d. Our result is consistent with earlier estimates (but with smaller uncertainties), including those based on offsets between Venus Express infrared mapping data and Magellan topography that suggest a mean LOD of 243.0228 ± 0.002d over a 16-year interval. We cannot detect subtle, short-term oscillations in rate, but the derived value provides an excellent fit to observational data over a 29-year period that can be used for future landing-site planning.