Recent results on the mass, gravitational field and moments of inertia of the moon

Abstract

Doppler tracking data from the Lunar Orbiter series of spacecraft have been used in a more complete analysis of the spherical harmonic coefficients of the lunar gravitational field through thirteenth degree and order. The value obtained for the mass of the Moon, GM = 4902.84 km3 s-2, is in good agreement with previous results and with results obtained by alternate procedures. Acceleration contour plots, derived from the gravitational coefficients, show correlations with surface features on the near side of the Moon, but are of questionable validity for the far side because of the lack of direct tracking data on the far side. Based on the most recent gravitational field data, the current estimate for the polar moment of inertia of the Moon is C/Ma2 = 0.4019-0.002+0.004. This value indicates that the interior of the Moon can be homogeneous, but some results presented strongly suggest that the Moon is differentiated, with an excess of mass in the direction toward the Earth. © 1972 D. Reidel Publishing Company.