Difference between revisions of "April 23, 2004"

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=Magnetic Moon=
 
=Magnetic Moon=
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<td><div align="center" span class="main_sm">Image Credit:  [mailto:jazzman@ssl.berkeley.edu Jasper Halekas]</div></td>
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<td><div align="center"><p>Image Credit:  [mailto:jazzman@ssl.berkeley.edu Jasper Halekas]</p></div></td>
 
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fields, and high Rs (red and orange) map high magnetic fields. The much more extensive LP data confirms Apollo results showing that the lunar surface is variably magnetized.
 
fields, and high Rs (red and orange) map high magnetic fields. The much more extensive LP data confirms Apollo results showing that the lunar surface is variably magnetized.
 
Impact basins themselves are only weakly magnetized, but the antipodal areas to the basins are strongly magnetized. This is not obvious here since the antipodes of most  
 
Impact basins themselves are only weakly magnetized, but the antipodal areas to the basins are strongly magnetized. This is not obvious here since the antipodes of most  
large basins are on the farside. Apollo data discovered two strong magnetic fields Reiner Gamma [["../02/LPOD-2004-02-02.htm" LPOD Feb. 2]] and the Sirsalis Rille,  
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large basins are on the farside. Apollo data discovered two strong magnetic fields Reiner Gamma ([[February_2,_2004|LPOD Feb. 2]]) and the Sirsalis Rille,  
 
and LP adds another localized strong field at 80W, 10S. The Sirsalis anomaly nicely overlays part of the rille and has been interpreted as the magnetic signature of a  
 
and LP adds another localized strong field at 80W, 10S. The Sirsalis anomaly nicely overlays part of the rille and has been interpreted as the magnetic signature of a  
 
magmatic dike (linear igneous intrusion) that underlies the rille. Other localized strong anomalies are visible between Imbrium and Nectaris. It is possible that all  
 
magmatic dike (linear igneous intrusion) that underlies the rille. Other localized strong anomalies are visible between Imbrium and Nectaris. It is possible that all  
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<p class="story"><b>Related Links:</b><br>
 
<p class="story"><b>Related Links:</b><br>
 
[http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2000/pdf/1435.pdf Strong Magnetic Anomalies]</p>
 
[http://www.lpi.usra.edu/meetings/lpsc2000/pdf/1435.pdf Strong Magnetic Anomalies]</p>
<p class="story"> <b>Tomorrow's LPOD:</b> Ortho Atlas</p>
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<p><b>Yesterday's LPOD:</b> [[April 22, 2004|Earth Day]] </p>
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<p><b>Tomorrow's LPOD:</b> [[April 24, 2004|The Star of Astronomy Night]] </p>
 
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<p align="center" class="main_titles"><b>Author & Editor:</b><br>
 
<p align="center" class="main_titles"><b>Author & Editor:</b><br>
 
[mailto:tychocrater@yahoo.com Charles A. Wood]</p>
 
[mailto:tychocrater@yahoo.com Charles A. Wood]</p>
<p align="center" class="main_titles"><b>Technical Consultant:</b><br>
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[mailto:anthony@perseus.gr Anthony Ayiomamitis]</p>
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<p align="center" class="main_titles"><b>A service of:</b><br>
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[http://www.observingthesky.org/ ObservingTheSky.Org]</p>
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<p align="center" class="main_titles"><b>Visit these other PODs:</b> <br>
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[http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html Astronomy] | [http://www.msss.com/ Mars] | [http://epod.usra.edu/ Earth]</p>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>
 
<p>&nbsp;</p>
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===COMMENTS?===
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Latest revision as of 18:15, 7 February 2015

Magnetic Moon

LPOD-2004-04-23.jpeg

Image Credit: Jasper Halekas

Magnetic Moon

The Moon lacks a dynamic magnetic field, but does possess remanent magnetization locked in when lunar rocks cooled and solidified billions of years ago. In 1998 the Lunar Prospector (LP) spacecraft collected 400,000 measurements of lunar magnetization - enough to make the first global map of surface magnetic field strength. The map shows an index of field strength called the electron reflection coefficient, R. Small values of R (purple to blue) correspond to small magnetic fields, and high Rs (red and orange) map high magnetic fields. The much more extensive LP data confirms Apollo results showing that the lunar surface is variably magnetized. Impact basins themselves are only weakly magnetized, but the antipodal areas to the basins are strongly magnetized. This is not obvious here since the antipodes of most large basins are on the farside. Apollo data discovered two strong magnetic fields Reiner Gamma (LPOD Feb. 2) and the Sirsalis Rille, and LP adds another localized strong field at 80W, 10S. The Sirsalis anomaly nicely overlays part of the rille and has been interpreted as the magnetic signature of a magmatic dike (linear igneous intrusion) that underlies the rille. Other localized strong anomalies are visible between Imbrium and Nectaris. It is possible that all these anomalies are somehow related to basin ejecta from Orientale, Imbrium and Nectaris, but the mechanism is unknown.

Chuck Wood

Technical Details:
North-south striping in Imbrium and other places is artifacts. White circles are outlines of basins and irregular white contour separates mare from highlands. Data and interpretation comes from the linked reference below.

Related Links:
Strong Magnetic Anomalies

Yesterday's LPOD: Earth Day

Tomorrow's LPOD: The Star of Astronomy Night


Author & Editor:
Charles A. Wood

 


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