masconn.
/ˈmaskɒn/, U.S. /ˈmæskɑn/ Astronomy.
Any of the regions of denser material thought to exist under some lunar maria (see mare n.4), discovered as a result of the variations they produce in the speed of satellites orbiting the moon. Also: a similar region on another planet.
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lunabase1966
mascon1968
1968 P. M. Muller & W. L. Sjogren in Science 16 Aug. 680/1 The Urey-Gilbert theory of lunar history has predicted such large-scale high-density mass concentrations below these maria, which, for convenience, we shall call mascons.
1969 Sci. Jrnl. May 61/1 The so-called mascons extend laterally for 50 to 200 km, are about 5 km thick and lie at a depth of between about 50 and 100 km.
1978 J. M. Pasachoff & M. L. Kutner University Astron. xvi. 396 Mascons may be lava that is denser than the surrounding matter.
1992 S. P. Maran Astron. & Astrophysics Encycl. 465/2 Tracking of the Orbiters..permitted mapping of the lunar gravity field, including the positive gravity anomalies over the circular maria termed mascons by the discoverers.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, December 2000; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1968