A lunar nearside northern hemisphere topographic model derived from Galileo stereo image data

Abstract

Galileo SSI multi-look-angle 1 km/pixel images obtained during the Earth-Moon flyby in 1992 were analyzed to derive a DTM (Digital Terrain Model) of the lunar nearside northern hemishphere (approx. longitude range: 0-120 degrees East; latitude range: 0-80 degrees North). The nominal spacecraft trajectory and camera pointing data were corrected by using control points an photogrammetric adjustment techniques. Automatic digital image matching was used to measure disparity data (stereo effects) in image pairs. The resulting terrain model has 2000 m grid spacing and 500 m height resolution. Prominent selenographic features visible in the terrain model include the Humboldtianum basin, Mare Crisium, parts of Mare Serenitatis, and numerous 100 km-sized craters. The terrain model is a contiguous topographic representation of the lunar northern frontside. It extends further to the north than Clementine altimeter data does and it is superior in terms of spatial resolution and noise level.