Lunar Gravity Models Derived from Kaguya Tracking Data: Applications to Formation of the Lunar Basins

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 23540500
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Solid earth and planetary physics
• Research Institution: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan (2014-2015); Chiba Institute of Technology (2011-2013)
• Principal Investigator: Namiki Noriyuki 国立天文台, RISE月惑星探査検討室, 教授 (50274428)
• Project Period (FY): 2011-04-28 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 内部構造 / 重力 / 惑星探査

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The correlation of lunar gravity and the topography models were carried out in FY2011-2012. Local admittance of gravity and topography was expected to show constant value corresponding to the crustal density, however, the numerical results revealed a variation of 10 to 30 %. Therefore in FY2013-2014, I have focused on the study of local admittance of lunar highland. This study indicated that the density of the lunar highland crust was smaller than previously considered, and that the lunar crust had high porosity. In FY2015, I worked to construct a numerical model to evaluate quantitatively a transition of types of lunar mascon basins. In this model, an uplift of lunar Moho is assumed, and related stress field is calculated. Then development of fault system is theoretically examined. These studies have been utilized in the development of laser altimeter of Japanese asteroid explorer, Hayabusa2.

Free Research Field

惑星科学