An Introduction to the Study of the Moon (Astrophysics and Space Science Library)

For earlier literat ure the reader can consult the relevant sections of the yearly volumes of Astronomische Jahresberichte which have appeared since 1900. A good many references to earlier literature -but, unfortunately, mixing freely chaff with wheatcan be found also in FIELDER'S' Structure 0/ the Lunar Sur/ace (pergamon Press, London, 1961) or BALDWIN'S Measure 0/ the Moon (Vniv. of Chicago Press, 1963). x AN INTRODUCTION TO THE STUDY OF THE MOON Dr. John C. Noyes, Head of the Astro-Geophysics Research, as weIl as to all other friends for placing all facilities of these laboratories so generously at my disposal at all stages of this work, and for their unfailing courtesy and cooperation. A large part of the difficult MS was expertly typed for the press by Miss Linda Baqui in Seattle; while, at Manchester, the unfailing assistance of Miss Ellen B. Finlay in all editorial matters has been -as always -invaluable. Many illustrations accompanying Part III of this book have been secured in the course of an extensive Manchester Programme in lunar photography at the Observatoire du Pic-du-Midi, supported since 1959 by the Air Force Cambridge Research Laboratories and the Aeronautical Chart and Information Center of the V.S. Air Force. May I, at this opportunity, express once more to these institutions our sincere appreciation of the unfailing cooperation with which they have met all our needs. Last, but not least, I wish to thank Professor C. de Jager, Editor of the Astrophysics and Space Science Library, for inviting me to publish this book in his series; and to the D. Reidel Publishing Company for the care which they have bestowed on the printing of the entire volume. Front Matter....Pages I-XII Front Matter....Pages 1-1 Basic Facts: Distance, Size, and Mass....Pages 3-8 The Motion of the Moon in Space....Pages 9-15 Rotation of the Moon; Optical Librations....Pages 16-23 Motion of the Moon about its Center of Gravity; Physical Librations....Pages 24-40 Photometric Consequences of the Moon’s Motion: Phases and Eclipses....Pages 41-51 Dynamics of the Earth-Moon System....Pages 52-64 Front Matter....Pages 69-72 Hydrostatic Equilibrium....Pages 73-86 Thermal History of the Moon....Pages 87-105 Stress History of the Moon....Pages 106-128 Possible Convection in Lunar Interior....Pages 129-146 Chemical Composition of the Moon....Pages 147-153 Exosphere of the Moon....Pages 154-160 Front Matter....Pages 165-167 Global Form of the Moon; Definition of Lunar Coordinates....Pages 168-186 Relative Coordinates on the Moon and their Determination....Pages 187-206 Mapping of the Moon....Pages 207-239 Formations on the Lunar Surface; Descriptive Survey....Pages 240-265 Origin of the Lunar Formations....Pages 266-297 Lunar Surface as an Impact Counter, and its Stratigraphy....Pages 298-314 Front Matter....Pages 319-322 Photometry of Scattered Moonlight....Pages 323-336 Thermal Emission of the Lunar Surface....Pages 337-366 Front Matter....Pages 319-322 Electromagnetic Properties of the Lunar Surface....Pages 367-387 Luminescence of the Lunar Surface....Pages 388-402 Structure of the Lunar Surface....Pages 403-419 Origin of Large-Scale Formations on the Lunar Surface....Pages 420-433 Back Matter....Pages 440-464 After several decades spent in astronomical semi-obscurity, the Moon has of late suddenly emerged as an object of considerable interest to students of astronomy as well as of other branches of natural science and technology; and the reasons for this are indeed of historical significance. For the Moon has now been destined to be the first celestial body outside the confines of our own planet to be reconnoitered at a close range by means of spacecraft built and sent out by human hand for this purpose. At the time of writing, not less than ten such spacecraft of American as well as Rus sian origin landed already on different parts of the lunar surface; and some of these provided remarkable records of its detail structure to a spatial resolution increased thousandfold over that attained so far from our ground-based facilities. A renewed interest in our satellite, stemming from this source, on the part of the students of many branches of science and technology has also underlined the need for presenting the gist of our present knowledge in this field in the form that could serve as an introduction to the study of the Moon not only for astronomers, but also for serious students from other branches of science or technology