mascon
noun
\
Definition of mascon
Examples of mascon in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Other large craters have what are known as mascons, short for mass concentrations. — National Geographic, "Huge mystery blob found under the moon's far side," 11 June 2019 Discovered in 1968 by scientists at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, mascons show up in gravity maps as bullseyes—a central circle of strong gravity surrounded by a ring of weak gravity and then another ring of stronger gravity. — National Geographic, "Huge mystery blob found under the moon's far side," 11 June 2019 Plus, the moon’s lopsided topography – riddled with mascons, or areas of dense material with higher-than-average gravitational pull – makes satellites’ orbits incredibly unpredictable. — The Washington Post, The Denver Post, "NASA just found an orbiter that’s been missing around the moon for 8 years," 14 Mar. 2017 The lunar crust formed around those craters, leaving mass concentrations (mascons) of gravity behind in some areas. — Erin Blakemore, Smithsonian, "NASA Spots India’s Long-Lost Lunar Orbiter," 14 Mar. 2017 Plus, the moon’s lopsided topography — riddled with mascons, or areas of dense material with higher-than-average gravitational pull — makes satellites’ orbits incredibly unpredictable. — The Washington Post, The Mercury News, "NASA just found an orbiter that’s been missing for 8 years," 13 Mar. 2017These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mascon.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Keep scrolling for more
Learn More about mascon
From the Editors at Merriam-Webster
A Journey to the Moon in 12 Words
A Journey to the Moon in 12 Words
Read this before attempting a moon shot
Comments on mascon
What made you want to look up mascon? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).
Test Your Vocabulary
Summer 2019 Words of the Day Quiz
-
- Which is a synonym of desideratum?
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
TAKE THE QUIZ
Test Your Knowledge - and learn some interesting things along the way.
TAKE THE QUIZ
-
Summer 2019 Words of the Day Quiz
The Word of the Day takes no vacation.
Take the quiz -
Obscure Shapes
Surprisingly specific words for shapes.
Take the quiz -
Spell It
Can you spell these 10 commonly misspelled words?
Take the quiz -
Add Diction
Build a chain of words by adding one letter at a time.
Play the game
Share mascon
Resources for mascon