THE MECHANICAL ELLIPTICITIES OF THE MOON FROM LUNA 10,

Abstract

The published estimates of 11 coefficients of the force function of the Moon obtained from the motion of Luna 10 are used to determine the mechanical ellipticities of the Moon. It is concluded that the Moon departs more from a condition of hydrostatic equilibrium than previous estimates have indicated. Also, its density is very close to being constant with a very slight increase with depth. This invalidates the recently advanced hypothesis that the density decreases with depth because of an excess in the motion of the nodal line of the lunar orbit. (Author)

Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jan 01, 1967
Accession Number
AD0648146

Entities

People

  • C. L. Goudas

Organizations

  • Boeing

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Coefficients

Readers

  • Space Exploration and Orbital Mechanics.
  • Theoretical Analysis.

Technology Areas

  • Space
  • Space - Orbital Debris