Gravity Anomaly Intersects Moon Basin

A linear gravity anomaly intersecting the Crisium basin on the nearside of the moon has been revealed by NASA's GRAIL mission. The GRAIL gravity gradient data are shown at left, with the location of the anomaly indicated. Red and blue correspond to stronger gravity gradients. Topography data over the same region from NASA's Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter's Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter are shown at right; these data show no sign of the gravity anomaly.

The anomaly is truncated by the basin, indicating that it is older than the basin and was partially destroyed by the impact.

The units of the gravity gradients are Eötvös, and of the topography are kilometers.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/CSM