Abstract
We present data from the Apache Point Observatory Lunar Laser-ranging Operation (APOLLO) covering the 15 yr span from 2006 April through the end of 2020. APOLLO measures the Earth–Moon separation by recording the round-trip travel time of photons from the Apache Point Observatory to five retro-reflector arrays on the Moon. The APOLLO data set, combined with the 50 yr archive of measurements from other lunar laser ranging (LLR) stations, can be used to probe fundamental physics such as gravity and Lorentz symmetry, as well as properties of the Moon itself. We show that range measurements performed by APOLLO since 2006 have a median nightly accuracy of 1.7 mm, which is significantly better than other LLR stations.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
More From: Publications of the Astronomical Society of the Pacific
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.