Topography of the Moon, referenced to the lunar geoid.

The topography of the Moon has been measured by the methods of laser altimetry and stereo image analysis, most recently from data obtained during the Clementine mission. The most visible topographic feature is the giant far side South Pole-Aitken basin, which possesses the lowest elevations of the Moon. The highest elevations are found just to the north-east of this basin, and it has been suggested that this area might represent thick ejecta deposits that were emplaced during an oblique South Pole-Aitken basin impact event. Other large impact basins, such as Imbrium, Serenitatis, Crisium, Smythii, and Orientale, also possess regionally low elevations and elevated rims. Image File history File links MoonTopoGeoidUSGS.jpg‎ File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links MoonTopoGeoidUSGS.jpg‎ File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... The GOCE project will measure high-accuracy gravity gradients and provide an accurate geoid model based on the Earths gravity field. ... Apparent magnitude: up to -12. ... Clementine was a joint space project between the Ballistic Missile Defense Organization (BMDO, previously the Strategic Defense Initiative Organization, or SDIO) and NASA. The objective of the mission was to test sensors and spacecraft components under extended exposure to the space environment and to make scientific observations of the Moon... The South Pole-Aitken basin is an impact crater on Earths Moon. ... In volcanology, ejecta consists of particles that came out of a volcanic vent, traveled though the air or under water, and fell back on the ground surface or on the ocean floor. ... Oblique view of Mare Imbrium looking south towards Copernicus crater. ... A map of Mare Serenitatis. ... Mare Crisium Studios is also the name of a company formed to develop the game Stars! Supernova Genesis. ... Mare Smythii (sea of William Henry Smyth) is a lunar mare located along the equator on the easternmost edge of the lunar near side. ... 1967 photograph made by NASAs Lunar Orbiter 4 Like a target ring bulls-eye, the lunar mare Mare Orientale (the eastern sea) is one of the most striking large scale lunar features. ...

Another distinguishing feature of the Moon's shape is that the elevations are on average about 1.9 km higher on the far side than the near side. If it is assumed that the crust is in isostatic equilibrium, and that the density of the crust is everywhere the same, then the higher elevations would be associated with a thicker crust. Using gravity, topography and seismic data, the crust is thought to be on average about 50±15 km thick, with the far-side crust being on average thicker than the near side by about 15 km.^[1] Isostasy is a term used in Geology to refer to the state of gravitational equilibrium between the Earths lithosphere and asthenosphere such that the tectonic plates float at an elevation which depends on their thickness and density. ...

See also

• Gravity field of the Moon
• Magnetic field of the Moon
• Mass concentration

Radial gravitational anomaly at the surface of the Moon. ... Total magnetic field strength at the surface of the Moon as derived from the Lunar Prospector electron reflectometer experiment. ... A mass concentration or mascon is a region of a planet or moons crust that contains a large amount of material that is denser than average for that body. ...

References

1. ^ Mark Wieczorek and 15 coauthors (2006). "The constitution and structure of the lunar interior". Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry 60: 221-364.