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Tidal friction and the early history of the moon's orbitThe present work investigates the consequences implied by various rheological models of the early earth for the orbital history of the moon subsequent to its formation. Models of the earth that yield small tidal angles, such as low-viscosity models, imply that the moon never orbited in the earth's equatorial plane, thereby ruling out an equatorial origin for the moon. A high-viscosity model is shown to permit the moon to originate in the equatorial plane and still account for the present-day characteristics of the moon's orbit.
Document ID
19750044548
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Reprint (Version printed in journal)
Authors
Rubincam, D. P.
(NASA Goddard Space Flight Center Geodynamics Branch, Greenbelt, Md., United States)
Date Acquired
August 8, 2013
Publication Date
April 10, 1975
Publication Information
Publication: Journal of Geophysical Research
Volume: 80
Subject Category
Lunar And Planetary Exploration
Accession Number
75A28620
Distribution Limits
Public
Copyright
Other

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