Summary of the IAU Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements and Its Current Report

Kurzfassung

Approximately every 3 years since 1979, the Working Group (WG) on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) has issued a report recommending coordinate systems and related parameters (body orientation and shape) that can be used for making cartographic products (maps) of solar system bodies. These recommendations, which are open to further modification when needed, are intended to facilitate the use and comparison of multiple datasets by promoting the use of a standardized set of mapping parameters. This abstract is intended to draw attention to the WG’s efforts and the recently published WG 2009 report [1]. The WG encourages input and can assist users, instrument teams and missions on cartographic issues.