Quote:
Originally Posted by CraigS
Hmm … interesting one, Carl;
I thought that rotating liquid metal (iron) in the core of a moon/planet usually generates a dipolar magnetic field. I think the moon only has localised crustal magnetic fields - not dipolar (??)
Interesting ..
Cheers
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The fact that the Moon rotates so slowly probably precludes most turbulent motion within that liquid part of the core, so it doesn't generate a magnetic field. Much the same sort of situation Venus is in.
Any motion in the liquid is probably vertical motion (very slow convection), which would tend to dampen down the formation of a field.