Results from lunar laser ranging data analysisThe lunar laser range data taken at McDonald Observatory between Aug. 1969 and May 1980 has been analyzed. The simple rms residual for the 2954 ranges is 31 cm. Results of the analysis include GM(earth) = 398600.45 cu km/sec sq within 0.02 cu km/sec sq and a secular acceleration of the lunar orbital mean longitude of -23.8 arcsec/sq century within 1.5 arcsec, which yields a Q of 12.3 at semidiurnal frequencies. The lunar harmonic C30 is -8.7/1,000,000 within 0.000001 and the lunar rotational dissipation of 0.0047 within 0.0005 day. Also resulting from the solution are geocentric coordinates of McDonald accurate to 30 cm, including the first value for the longitude with the new IAU constants and a dynamical equinox.
Document ID
19820063657
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Authors
Dickey, J. O. (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 CA, United States)
Date Acquired
August 10, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1982
Subject Category
Astronomy
Meeting Information
Meeting: High-precision earth rotation and earth-moon dynamics: Lunar distances and related observations