A lunar metal core

Abstract

Recent work generally supports the hypothesis of a centrally condensed lunar core. Data regarding the axial moment on the basis of laser tracking and satellite orbit analyses place an upper limit of about 500 km on an Fe core, or 700 km upon an Fe/FeS core, if differentiation in the lithosphere is ignored. Whether a metallized core exists in the moon has a profound bearing upon the question of the origin of the magnetic fields responsible for the present day magnetization on the lunar surface. Recent efforts to examine in detail signals arising from lunar induction at very low frequency are discussed. The discussion represents an extension of a study reported by Wiskerchen et al. (1976). The present data base consists of all Apollo 12 data which fulfill the requirement that the surface magnetometer be on the sunward side of the moon and at least 10 deg from the lunar optical terminator. It is found that only marginal evidence exists for a metallized core at a radius of 400 km in the moon.