Implications of lunar aseismicity.

The aseismicity of the moon has been interpreted by Latham et al. (1970) as an indication that the moon is relatively cold in the interior. An alternative argument is now presented. This argument suggests the reverse conclusion, that the moon is too warm to be seismic. The argument is based on known properties of materials, in particular their modes of failure under shear stress. A tentative conclusion is presented that the moon is largely aseismic because the lunar-therm lies in the stable-sliding field of rock failure. It is too warm, rather than too cold.