Gravity Field of the Moon from the Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory (GRAIL) Mission

M. T. Zuber(Massachusetts Institute of Technology), David E. Smith(Massachusetts Institute of Technology), M. M. Watkins(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), S. W. Asmar(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Alexander S. Konopliv(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), F. G. Lemoine(Goddard Space Flight Center), H. J. Melosh(Purdue University West Lafayette), G. A. Neumann(Goddard Space Flight Center), Roger J. Phillips(Southwest Research Institute), Sean C. Solomon(Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory), M. A. Wieczorek(Institut de physique du globe de Paris), J. G. Williams(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Sander Goossens(University of Maryland, Baltimore County), Gerhard Kruizinga(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), E. Mazarico(Massachusetts Institute of Technology), Ryan S. Park(Jet Propulsion Laboratory), Dah‐Ning Yuan(Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
Science
December 6, 2012
10.1126/science.1231507
Cited by 512

Abstract

The Holy GRAIL? The gravity field of a planet provides a view of its interior and thermal history by revealing areas of different density. GRAIL, a pair of satellites that act as a highly sensitive gravimeter, began mapping the Moon's gravity in early 2012. Three papers highlight some of the results from the primary mission. Zuber et al. (p. 668 , published online 6 December) discuss the overall gravity field, which reveals several new tectonic and geologic features of the Moon. Impacts have worked to homogenize the density structure of the Moon's upper crust while fracturing it extensively. Wieczorek et al. (p. 671 , published online 6 December) show that the upper crust is 35 to 40 kilometers thick and less dense—and thus more porous—than previously thought. Finally, Andrews-Hanna et al. (p. 675 , published online 6 December) show that the crust is cut by widespread magmatic dikes that may reflect a period of expansion early in the Moon's history.

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