noun
- regions of the Moon or other celestial bodies where the gravitational field is stronger than normal due to concentrations of dense material beneath the surface
Usage: astronomy; geology
Examples
- Scientists discovered mascons on the Moon through careful analysis of orbital data.
- The spacecraft’s trajectory was affected by the gravitational pull of lunar mascons.
- Mascons are thought to be caused by dense basaltic material from ancient asteroid impacts.
- Researchers use mascons to study the internal structure of planetary bodies.
- The Apollo missions helped confirm the existence of mascons beneath lunar maria.
- Mascons create gravitational anomalies that can alter satellite orbits around the Moon.