The Moon is the most accessible and best studied rocky, or "terrestrial", body beyond Earth. Unlike Earth, however, the Moon's surface has preserved the record of nearly the entire 4.5 billion years of solar system history. Orbital observations and samples of surface rocks returned to Earth show that no other body preserves the record of geological history as clearly as the Moon. And yet, there is still a great deal we do not yet understand. Questions about the origin of the maria and the asymmetry in crustal thickness require more advanced studies to understand. By carefully studying the gravity of the moon, its interior structure and thermal evolution can be learned. This information can then be extended beyond the moon to help us further understand the history and evolution of the other terrestrial planets in our solar system. NASA's Gravity Recovery and Interior Laboratory, or GRAIL, will use a technique pioneered by a highly successfully Earth mission, called GRACE, and will place two spacecraft in a low-altitude, nearly circular orbit around the moon to help reveal the answers to these intriguing questions. Speaker: Sami Asmar, GRAIL Deputy Project Scientist, JPL (And, perhaps, Mike Watkins, GRAIL Project Scientist, JPL) Source: www.jpl.nasa.gov/events/lectures_archive.php?year=2011&month=2 Credits: NASA/JPL-Caltech The von Kármán Lecture Series General Information The Theodore von Kármán Lecture Series, named after JPL's founder, and presented by JPL's Office of Communication and Education, brings the excitement of the space program's missions, instruments and other technologies to both JPL employees and the local community. Lectures take place twice per month, on consecutive Thursdays and Fridays. The Thursday lectures take place in JPL's Theodore von Kármán Auditorium and are streamed live via Ustream, and Friday lectures take place at Pasadena City College's Vosloh Forum. Both start at 7:00 PM. Admission and parking are free for all lectures, no reservations are required, and seating is limited. Support the Channel vie BOOK DEPOSITARY Shopping Book Depository: Millions of books with free delivery worldwide www.bookdepository.com/?a_aid=Booklibrary FOLLOW THE CHANNEL ON TWITTER twitter.com/FREESPACELIVE Enjoy, Share, Like and Subscribe:)

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