Project “The Moon – 2012+”: Spin-orbital evolution, geophysics and selenodesy of the Moon

Abstract

The Russian scientific project “The Moon – 2012+” is directed at solving fundamental problems of celestial mechanics, selenodesy and geophysics of the Moon through the pursuance of theoretical research and computer simulations of the following fields. 1. Spin-orbital longtime evolution and physical librations of the multilayered Moon: (a) development of the analytical theory of rotation of the two- /three-layer Moon and construction of the physical libration’s tables for processing accurate observations and for constructing a lunar annual book; and (b) analysis of the spin-orbital evolution of the early Moon, an estimation of internal energy dissipation, and modeling of the long-term mechanism maintaining the free librations of the Moon. 2. Geodynamics of a lunar core: analysis of differentiation of a lunar core, detailed elaboration of plume-tectonics of mantle and a core of the early Moon, evolution of a boundary layer of a core–mantle boundary, reconstruction of the gravitational and viscous–mechanical interactions of a lunar core and mantle, research on resonant dissipation of internal energy, and calculation of free and forced nutations of a lunar core and of free fluctuations of a core–mantle system. 3. Selenodesy of lunar far-side: solution of an inverse problem in lunar gravimetry, construction of a geodynamic model of the lunar crust and of a Moho’s boundary, reconstruction of initial mascons on the far-side of the Moon, and creation of accurate topographical and gravitational models of the Moon on the basis of modern observations.