The Lunar far side as seen by the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter. (Credit: NASA/Goddard Space Flight Center)
Tidal forces early in the moon's history?
ScienceDaily (Nov. 12, 2010) — A bulge of elevated topography on the far side of the moon -- known as the lunar far side highlands -- has defied explanation for decades. But a new study led by researchers at the University of California, Santa Cruz, shows that the highlands may be the result of tidal forces acting early in the moon's history when its solid outer crust floated on an ocean of liquid rock.