Physics
Scientific paper
Apr 1971
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=1971pepi....4..185k&link_type=abstract
Physics of the Earth and Planetary Interiors, Volume 4, Issue 3, p. 185-192.
Physics
6
Scientific paper
The most significant inference from the gravitational field is that the isostatic compensation of the highlands requires a thorough fractionation of at least one-third of the Moon's mass. The Apollo amples and other recent data make creation of the mascons by surface transfer processes much less plausible, leave their creation by infalling denser bodies speculative, and make more acceptable to disciples of William of Occam their creation by processes internal to the Moon. A Moon which experienced drastic fractionation of its outer parts and then a billion years later has volcanism is certainly one which would have a thermal history where the outer parts cooled relative to the inner. The interpretation of magnetometry near and on the Moon is still sufficiently unsure that broad variations in the gravitational field could be caused by convection in the Moon's core. The orientation of the maria toward the Earth might be caused by tidal effects when the Moon was a few Earth radii from the Earth, but the mechanism of such effects depends upon how the Moon's orbit was modified by infalling bodies from outside the Earth-Moon system.
No associations
LandOfFree
Interpretation of the lunar gravitational field does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Interpretation of the lunar gravitational field, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Interpretation of the lunar gravitational field will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1397282