A CONTOUR MAP OF THE MOON

Abstract

The lunar elevation data provided by SchrutkaRechtenstamm supplemented by similar data near the limbs provided by Davidson and Brooks, were used to determine the equation of surface of the Moon as a sum of spherical harmonics including terms up to the eighth order. This equation was used to construct a contour map of the Moon. The same work was repeated for data provided by Baldwin which also were supplemented by the same data by Davidson and Brooks. The two maps have some basic similarities. After improving the equation of surface derived from Schrutka's data in a way that a homogeneous Moon with this equation of surface would also satisfy the conditions, f = 0.633 (Koziel, 1964), beta = 0.0006267 (Jeffreys, 1959), gamma = 0.0002274 (Jeffreys, 1961), a third contour map which seems to be more realistic than the previous two is derived.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Oct 01, 1964
Accession Number
AD0607570

Entities

People

  • C. L. Goudas

Organizations

  • Boeing

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Air Platforms

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Accuracy
  • Analog Computers
  • Bodies
  • Coefficients
  • Computers
  • Control Systems
  • Elevation
  • Equations
  • Errors
  • Functions (Mathematics)
  • Harmonic Analysis
  • Harmonics
  • Mathematics
  • Measurement
  • Polynomials
  • Scientific Research
  • Spherical Harmonics

Readers

  • Calculus or Mathematical Analysis
  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris