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Analysis and interpretation of lunar laser altimetry.About 4.5 revolutions of laser altimetry were obtained by Apollo 15. This altimetry indicates a 2-km displacement of the center of mass from the center of figure toward the earthside. The terrae are quite rough, with frequent changes of 1 km or more in successive altitudes at about 33-km intervals. The mean altitude of terrae above maria is about 3 km with respect to the center of mass, indicating a thickness of about 24 km for a high-alumina crust. The maria are extremely level, with elevations varying not more than plus or minus 150 m about the mean over some stretches of 200 to 600 km. However, different maria have considerably different mean elevations. The largest unanticipated feature found is a 1400 km wide depression centered at about 180 deg longitude, and 2 km deep with respect to a 1737-km sphere (about 6 km deep with respect to the surrounding terrae). This basin has the appearance of typical terrae, although there are indications of a ring structure of about 600-km radius in the Orbiter photography. Altitudes across circum-Orientale features suggest that Mare Orientale is also a deep basin. The data appear to corroborate a model of early large-scale differentiation of a crust, followed a considerable time later by short intense episodes of mare filling with low viscosity lavas.
Document ID
19730035025
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 Manned Spacecraft Center Houston, Tex., United States)
Date Acquired
August 7, 2013
Publication Date
January 1, 1972
Subject Category
Instrumentation And Photography
Meeting Information
Meeting: Lunar Science Conference
Location: Houston, TX
Start Date: January 10, 1972
End Date: January 13, 1972
Accession Number
73A19827
Funding Number(s)
CONTRACT_GRANT: NGL-05-007-002
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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