Abstract
The satellite impact interpretation of the surface distribution of lunar maria is presented according to Barricelli and Metcalfe (1969). It is emphasized that the formation of molten rock (lava) which, according to the Apollo 11 findings, seems to have been the origin of the material of which maria are composed, can be the result of heat developed by the impacts which created the respective maria (Gilbert 1893) and does not necessarily imply a volcanic or internal origin of this material.
The distribution of mascons and some of its possible interpretations are discussed.
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Barricelli, N. A. and Metcalfe, R.: 1969, ‘The Lunar Surface and Early History of the Earth's Satellite System’,Icarus 10, 144–163.
Darney, M.: 1933,Bull. Soc. Astron. France,47, 452–457.
Gilbert, G. K.: 1893,Bull. Phil. Soc. Wash. 12, 241–292.
Gottlieb, P.: 1969, ‘Estimation of Local Lunar Gravity Features’,IAU-URSI Symposium on Planetary Atmospheres and Surfaces, August 12, 1969.
Kopal, Z.: 1966, ‘On the Possible Origin of Lunar Maria’,Nature 210, 188.
Marshall, R. K.: 1943, ‘Origin of the Lunar Craters, a Summary’,Popular Astron. 51, 415–424.
Muller, P. M. and Sjogren, W. L.: 1968, ‘Mascons: Lunar Mass Concentrations’,Science 161, 680–684.
Urey, H.: 1952,The Planets, Yale University Press, New Haven, Connecticut, pp. 30–39.
Urey, H.: 1962, ‘Origin and History of the Moon’, inPhysics and Astronomy of the Moon (ed. by Z. Kopal), Academic Press, New York, pp. 481–523.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Present address: Oslo Universitet, Dept. of Mathematics, Blindern, Norway.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Metcalfe, R., Barricelli, N.A. The impact-theory interpretation of the distribution of Maria on the lunar surface. The Moon 1, 232–236 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00562827
Received:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00562827