Apollo laser altimetry and inferences as to lunar structureWeighted mean laser altimetry data from Apollo 15, 16, and 17 tracks were analyzed, yielding a mean lunar radius of 1737.7 km and an offset of center-of mass from center of figure of 2.55 km toward 24 deg E. Weighted mean elevations with respect to a 1738 km radius sphere for various terrain types are: (1) farside terrae +1.8 km, (2) nearside terrae -1.4 km, (3) ringed maria -4.0 km, and (4) other maria -2.3 km. Comparison of gravity and topography data indicates that there is a variation in density in the outer parts of the moon and that the moon has a crust which is equivalent to at least 60 km of material of 2.95 grams per cu cm density. This result and moment-of-inertia data are consistent with a lunar interior model with a uniform density gradient in the mantle to the bottom of the lithosphere, constant density in the asthenosphere, and no core.
Document ID
19750055670
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Kaula, W. M.
Schubert, G.
Lingenfelter, R. E. (California, University Los Angeles, Calif., United States)
Sjogren, W. L. (California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Calif., United States)
Wollenhaupt, W. R. (NASA Johnson Space Center Houston, Tex., United States)