Photogrammetric analysis of clementine multi-look angle images obtained near mare orientale

A local point network and a DTM (Digital Terrain Model) are derived from Clementine UVVIS multi-look angle images that were obtained on April 30, 1994, covering a small region of the Lunar Orientale Basin (19.5°S to 15°S and 84.5°W to 86.0°W). The nominal camera pointing and spacecraft trajectory data were photogrammetrically adjusted, a procedure which was found to improve estimates of the coordinates of 41 control points significantly to an internally consistent accuracy of 30 m in the horizontal and 50 m in the height direction. The terrain model correlates well with features identified in the image data, two craters, volcanic constructs, and the dark lavafilled Lacus Veris, located in a topographic depression. The terrain model indicates a steep 2000 m drop in elevation within a range of only 6–8 km towards the center of Orientale Further studies of the lunar topography in this particular region using Clementine stereo data seem well warranted and feasible.