Astronomy and Astrophysics – Astronomy
Scientific paper
Sep 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009dps....41.2602s&link_type=abstract
American Astronomical Society, DPS meeting #41, #26.02
Astronomy and Astrophysics
Astronomy
Scientific paper
The Japanese lunar explorer KAGUYA (SELENE) was launched on September 14th, 2007 and continued its operation by June 11th, 2009. Laser altimeter(LALT) on board KAGUYA obtained the first precise global topography data with range accuracy of 5m [1]. In the polar regions where CLEMENTINE LIDAR could not obtain data, KAGUYA clarified topographic features including permanently shadowed areas. Distribution of solar illumination rates was also estimated at elevated areas [2]. The amplitude of the power spectrum of topography spherical harmonics is larger than that of the previous model at L>30.
Using 4-way Doppler tracking with relay satellite OKINA(Rstar), KAGUYA obtained the first precise gravity field of the lunar far-side [3]. Multi-frequency VLBI observation using subsatellites OKINA and OUNA(Vstar) improved the accuracy of gravity. Combined with topography data, we estimate the crustal thickness variation of the Moon [4].
Gravity signatures of far-side impact basins are mostly explained by topography except for the central high. We have better correlation of spherical harmonics coefficients between gravity and topography than the previous model [3]. On the far-side, obtained Bouguer anomaly distribution is relatively smooth both within South Pole-Aitken basin (SPA) and within far-side highland terrain (FHT). This would imply relatively smooth crust-mantle boundary there. The shape of the central SPA basin with thinner crust is rather circular. SPA is also characterized by the admittance spectra. Although the crustal thickness of SPA is much thinner than that FHT, the elastic thicknesses of both zones are not so different on the basis of the admittance. SPA area would be elastically supported by a part of upper mantle.
[1] Araki, H. et al.(2009) Science 323, 892. [2] Noda et al.(2008) GRL, doi:10.1029/2008GL035692 [3] Namiki, N. et al.(2009) Science 323, 900, [4] Ishihara, Y. et al.(2009) GRL, submitted.
Araki Huzihiro
Goossens Sander
Hanada Hideo
Harada Yoshifumi
Ishihara Yasuhide
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