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Williams 2007
Williams, J.G. (2007). A scheme for lunar inner core detection. Geophysical Research Letters 34: doi: 10.1029/2006GL028185. issn: 0094-8276.

Very precise measurements of the lunar gravity field could detect a solid inner core. For synchronous rotation, the equator planes of the inner core and mantle should be tilted with respect to the ecliptic plane and precess along that plane with the same 18.6 yr period. Generally, two different tilts would cause a static inner core gravity field to appear as small periodic (27.212 d) variations in the mantle-referenced C 21 and S 21 coefficients. Tidal variations also contribute to the C 21 variation so a much improved k 2 Love number would be required. Model computations suggest that the inner core signature is likely to be very small requiring sensitive gravity measurements. In principle, a signature analogous to the Moon's should be present for other synchronous satellites with interior liquid layers and also Mercury.

BACKGROUND DATA FILES

Abstract

Keywords
Geodesy and Gravity, Lunar and planetary geodesy and gravity (5417, 5450, 5714, 5744, 6019, 6250), Planetary Sciences, Comets and Small Bodies, Gravitational fields, Planetary Sciences, Comets and Small Bodies, Interiors, Planetary Sciences, Comets and Small Bodies, Orbital and rotational dynamics, Planetary Sciences, Comets and Small Bodies, Plasma and MHD instabilities (2149, 2752, 7836)
Journal
Geophysical Research Letters
http://www.agu.org/journals/gl/
Publisher
American Geophysical Union
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