Lunar deflections of the vertical and their elementary interpretation

Summary The selenopotential was determined at the Apollo 12 landing site (A12) using the selenocentric constant, Stokes' constants of the Moon up to n=13, the angular velocity of rotation of the Moon and the value of gravity directly observed at A12. Using and the constants mentioned above, the radius-vector of the equiselenopotential surface passing through A12 was derived. The fundamental selenocentric parameters, based on this surface, were computed, as well as the deflections of the vertical especially in some strongly anomalous regions of the Moon. For some mascons an elementary interpretation has been carried out.Dedicated to Academician Alois Zátopek on His 65th BirthdayPresented at the XVth Plenary Meeting of COSPAR, Madrid, May 10–24, 1972, under the title:Selenocentric Reference Parameters and Deflections of the Vertical Related to the Equipotential Surface Passing through the Apollo 12 Landing Site.