The First Far-Side Gravity of the Moon and Global Topography by KAGUYA (SELENE)

PRESS RELEASE Date Released: Monday, October 13, 2008 Source: National Astronomical Observatory of Japan - Comments Astronomers are announcing today that the precise gravity field of the lunar far side and the global lunar topography map were obtained by KAGUYA spacecraft. The report is being presented by Dr. Sho Sasaki of National Astronomical Observatory of Japan, in Ithaca, New York, to the 40th annual meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society. The result is of great interest because it shows evidence of the difference of the interior and thermal history between the lunar far side and near side. The Japanese lunar explorer KAGUYA (SELENE) was launched on September 14th, 2007 by JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) and has been operated successfully more than one year. The aim... [read full story]