Vol. 10 · Portmanteaus ·Mid-century: TV and science ·1968
Mascon
mass concentration
- Meaning
- A region of unusually high gravitational pull, especially on the Moon.
- Source words
- mass + concentration
- Coined by
- Paul M. Muller & William L. Sjogren
- Year
- 1968
Background
Coined by NASA JPL scientists after Lunar Orbiter data showed unexpected gravity anomalies beneath lunar maria. Mascons affected Apollo-mission trajectories and had to be mapped for lunar landings.
Mid-century: TV and science
Two engines dominated: television (sitcom, televangelist) and post-war big science (pulsar, transistor). Many mid-century coinages came from scientific style sheets and industry journals.
Two words, one coinage.
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