J. G. Williams, D. H. Boggs (Jet Propulsion Laboratory)
A precise model of lunar dynamics is needed to analyze the very accurate lunar laser ranges. The orbital dynamics accounts for multi-body gravitational interactions, relativistic effects, nonspherical gravity fields, and tides on Earth and Moon. The lunar rotational dynamics involves torques from the lunar gravity field, figure-figure torques, tidal distortion, tidal dissipation, dissipation at a fluid-core/solid-mantle boundary, and torques from that oblate boundary.
Bulletin of the American Astronomical Society, 37 #2
© 2005. The American Astronomical Soceity.