Formation of lunar farside-nearside asymmetry (IMAGE)
Caption
The lunar magma ocean (LMO) cooled rapidly to form early mantle cumulates before tidal locking, and floating plagioclase formed the anorthositic crust. After tidal locking was established, the nearside-farside thermal contrast triggered lateral convection within the LMO, which moved anorthositic crust toward the farside and residual melts to the nearside. Continuous cooling of residual melts ultimately produced thinner late-stage LMO cumulate layers on the farside. N, nearside; F, farside.
Credit
Yuantao Gu, Hejiu Hui
Usage Restrictions
Use with credit.
License
Original content