Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2009
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2009agufm.p21a1189b&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2009, abstract #P21A-1189
Physics
[5464] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Remote Sensing, [6235] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Mercury
Scientific paper
In 2008 the MESSENGER spacecraft made two close flybys (M1 and M2) of Mercury and imaged about 74% of the planet at a resolution of 1 km per pixel, and at higher resolution for smaller portions of the planet. The Mariner 10 spacecraft imaged about 42% of Mercury’s surface more than 30 years ago. Combining image data collected by the two missions yields coverage of about 83% of Mercury’s surface. MESSENGER will perform its third and final flyby of Mercury (M3) on 29 September 2009. This will yield approximately 86% coverage of Mercury, leaving only the north and south polar regions yet to be imaged by MESSENGER after orbit insertion in March 2011. A new global mosaic of Mercury was constructed using 325 images containing 3566 control points (8110 measures) from M1 and 225 images containing 1465 control points (3506 measures) from M2. The M3 flyby is shifted in subsolar longitude only by 4° from M2, so the added coverage is very small. However, this small slice of Mercury fills a gore in the mosaic between the M1 and M2 data and allows a complete cartographic tie around the equator. We will run a new bundle block adjustment with the additional images acquired from M3. This new edition of the MESSENGER Mercury Dual Imaging System (MDIS) Narrow Angle Camera (NAC) global mosaic of Mercury includes many improvements since the M2 flyby in October 2008. A new distortion model for the NAC camera greatly improves the image-to-image registration. Optical distortion correction is independent of pointing error correction, and both are required for a mosaic of high quality. The new distortion model alone reduced residual pointing errors for both flybys significantly; residual pixel error improved from 0.71 average (3.7 max) to 0.13 average (1.7 max) for M1 and from 0.72 average (4.8 max.) to 0.17 average (3.5 max) for M2. Analysis quantifying pivot motor position has led to development of a new model that improves accuracy of the pivot platform attitude. This model improves the accuracy of pointing knowledge and reduces overall registration errors between adjacent images. The net effect of these improvements is an overall offset of up to 10 km in some locations across the mosaic. In addition, the radiometric calibration process for the NAC has been improved to yield a better dynamic range across the mosaic by 20%. The new global mosaic of Mercury will be used in scientific analysis and aid in planning observation sequences leading up to and including orbit insertion of the MESSENGER spacecraft in 2011.
Becker Julia K.
Becker Tammy L.
Denevi Brett Wilcox
McNutt Ralph L.
Murchie Scott L.
No associations
LandOfFree
Near Global Mosaic of Mercury does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Near Global Mosaic of Mercury, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Near Global Mosaic of Mercury will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-1768356