Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Article
  • Published:

Moon Model–An Offset Core

Abstract

A lunar model having an asymmetric core explains the offset centre of gravity, moment of inertia, mascons and maria. A possible evolution theory is also presented.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

USD 39.95

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Kopal, Zdenek, An Introduction to the Study of the Moon (D. Reidel Publishing Company, Dordrecht, Holland, 1966).

    Google Scholar 

  2. Muller, P. M., and Sjogren, W. L., Science, 161, 680 (1968).

    Article  ADS  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Michael, W. A., Fourteenth General Assembly of the International Union of Geodesy and Geophysics Meeting, Lucerne, Switzerland (1967).

    Google Scholar 

  4. Lunar Sample Analysis Planning Team, Science, 167, 449 (1970).

  5. Lunar Sample Preliminary Examination Team, Science, 167, 1325 (1970).

  6. Apollo 14 Preliminary Science Report, NASA SP-272, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC (1971).

  7. Ransford, G. A., Wollenhaupt, W. R., and Gizzell, R. M., NASA-TN-D-6082 (National Aeronautics and Space Administration, Washington, DC, 1970).

  8. Wollenhaupt, W. R., and Ransford, G. A., Bull. Amer. Astron. Soc., 3, Part II (1971).

  9. Apollo 15, Preliminary Science Report (in the press).

  10. Muller, P. M., and Sjogren, W. L., in Proceedings of the International Astronomical Union Symposium No. 47, The Moon (University of Newcastle upon Tyne, England, in the press).

  11. Sjogren, W. L., Measure of the Moon (edit. by Kopal, Z., and Goudas, C.), 341 (D. Reidel Publishing Company, 1967).

    Book  Google Scholar 

  12. Shapiro, A., Uliana, E. A., Yaplee, B. S., and Knowles, S. H., Moon and Planets II (North-Holland Publishing Company, 1968).

    Google Scholar 

  13. Wells, William, D., AAS Paper 71–337 (AAS/AIAA Astrodynamics Specialists Conference, Ft. Lauderdale, Florida, 1971).

  14. US Army Topocommand, Lunar 1 : 100,000 Topomaps II P-2-(December 1967); II P-6 (December 1967); III P-II (January 1968); II P-13 (December 1967); Lunar 1 : 250,000 Topographic Photomaps V-23; 1-Rima Hyginus, second ed.(October 1970); V-24-Hipparchus (November 1970).

  15. US Air Force Aeronautical Chart and Information Center (ACIC) Lunar 1 : 100,000 Topomaps II P-8 (December 1967); III P-12 (March 1968); III P-9 (March 1968); Lunar 1 : 250,000 Topographic Photomaps; III-5-18-Mosting C (December 1969); III-5-23-Fra Mauro, second ed.(October 1970).

  16. Garthwaithe, K., Holdridge, D. B., and Mulholland, J. D., Astron. J., 75, 1133 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  17. Lorell, J., The Moon, 1, 190 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lorell, J., Supporting Research and Advanced Development, Space Programs Summary 37–45, 4 (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California, 13, 1967).

    Google Scholar 

  19. O'Keefe, J. A., and Cameron, W. S., Icarus, 1, 271 (1962).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  20. Jeffreys, H., The Earth (Cambridge University Press, 1962).

    MATH  Google Scholar 

  21. Wise, D. V., and Yates, M. T., J. Geophys. Res., 75, 261 (1970).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  22. Sonnet, C. R., Colburn, D. S., Dyal, P., Parkin, C. W., Smith, B. F., Schubert, G., and Schwartz, K., Nature, 230, 359 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  23. Sjogren, W. L., J. Geophys. Res., 76, 7021 (1971).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

RANSFORD, G., SJOGREN, W. Moon Model–An Offset Core. Nature 238, 260–262 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1038/238260a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/238260a0

This article is cited by

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing