Early lunar orbiter missions revealed something unexpected. The Moon’s gravitational field is uneven, shaped by mass concentrations known as mascons. These anomalies were strong enough to perturb spacecraft trajectories, forcing NASA to reanalyze tracking data using the Deep Space Network. The results challenged assumptions about the Moon’s internal structure and hinted that its formation and evolution may be far more complex than originally believed. | The Randall Carlson

As you look at the #supermoon tonight, did you know that we have a spacecraft orbiting the moon? The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission has been mapping the moon’s surface and collecting data for scientists for more than seven years. Learn more about this mission: http://www.nasa.gov/lro | NASA - National Aeronautics and Space Administration