title: Nonexistence of large mascons at mare marginis and mare orientale.
abstract: The analysis of line-of-sight residual accelerations from Lunar Orbiters 3 and 5 does not show any evidence for large mascons near the lunar limbs. Although unfavorable geometry reduces the acceleration effect due to any mascon near the limb, simulations show that large masses at Mare Orientale and Mare Marginis would produce substantial accelerations, in complete disagreement with the actual Doppler tracking data obtained from a Lunar Orbiter experiment.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gottlieb
authors.forename: P M
authors.initials: PM
authors.lastname: Muller
authors.forename: W L
authors.initials: WL
authors.lastname: Sjogren