Initial measurements of the lunar induced magnetic dipole moment using Lunar Prospector Magnetometer data

摘要: Twenty-one orbits of Lunar Prospector magnetometer data obtained during an extended passage the Moon through a lobe geomagnetic tail in April 1998 are applied to estimate residual lunar induced magnetic dipole moment. Editing and averaging individual orbit segments yields negative moment with amplitude −2.4 ±1.6 × 1022 Gauss-cm³ per Gauss field. Assuming that field is caused entirely by electrical currents near surface highly electrically conducting metallic core, preferred core radius 340±90 km. For iron-rich composition, such would represent 1 3% mass.