Spectroscopic and photometric evaluation of images from the Mars Pathfinder camera Original Research Article

The images taken by the Mars Pathfinder camera are used to obtain information about the chemical and mineralogical properties of the Martian stones and soil at the landing site. These tasks are fulfilled by spectroscopic and photometric techniques. A number of scientific groups are engaged in this work. Three aspects of this work, which was done in the DLR Institute of Planetary Exploration, will be shown. A method for measuring the reflectance characteristics of the calibration targets is demonstrated. The determination of the angles of incidence, emergence, and phase for a point in the images is explained. Finally, two different methods of spectral classification of image points are shown.