Venusian k₂ tidal Love number from Magellan and PVO tracking data

The k₂ potential Love number which scales the tidal deformation of Venus by the Sun has been estimated from Doppler tracking of Magellan and Pioneer Venus Orbiter (PVO) spacecraft data. The nominal range for k₂ from theoretical models is 0.23 ≤ k₂ ≤ 0.29 for a liquid iron core and about 0.17 if the iron core has solidified. Our best estimate of this parameter is k₂ = 0.295±0.066(2× formal σ) and supports the hypothesis that Venus core is liquid.