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Geophysical parameters of the earth-moon systemDoppler tracking data from Lunar Orbiter 4 have been combined with laser ranging data from lunar retroreflectors to yield a number of geophysical and geodetic parameters for the earth and moon. This joint solution gives values of (1) the lunar principal polar moment C/M R squared = 0.3905 plus or minus 0.0023, (2) GM(E) = 398600.461 plus or minus 0.026 cu km/sq s, and (3) an earth/moon mass ratio at 81.300587 plus or minus 0.000049. Also determined are the harmonics of a complete lunar gravity field through degree and order 5, the obliquity of the lunar pole, selenocentric coordinates of the lunar retroreflectors, geocentric coordinates of the McDonald Observatory, and the lunar secular acceleration. The lunar potential Love number is weakly determined at 0.022 plus or minus 0.013, and a suprisingly large dissipation of rotational energy is inferred, though either solid body tidal dissipation or liquid core mantle interactions could be causes.
Document ID
19800059996
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Ferrari, A. J.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Sinclair, W. S.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Sjogren, W. L.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Williams, J. G.
(Jet Propulsion Lab., California Inst. of Tech. Pasadena, CA, United States)
Yoder, C. F.
(California Institute of Technology, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena Calif., United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
July 10, 1980
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 85
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
80A44166
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NAS7-100
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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