The Moon · Spaceflight · Physics
Mascon
Say it: MASS-kon IPA: /ˈmæskɑn/ noun
Mascon: A concentration of mass associated with a positive gravitational anomaly.
Some lunar basins contain more mass than their surroundings would suggest. A spacecraft passing overhead feels the uneven gravitational field, which alters its motion.
- Example
- The gravity map revealed a mascon beneath the impact basin.
- Why astronomers use it
- Mascons connect the Moon's interior structure with the practical problem of predicting spacecraft orbits.
- Tiny cosmic connection
- The name compresses mass concentration; a mascon is inferred from gravity, not identified merely as a bright surface patch.
Observatory The Moon Spaceflight Physics
Where to check it
Written for Cool Moon Facts in its own words; the sources cover the same idea in more depth.