Digital elevation models of the Moon from Earth-based radar interferometry

Author

Margot, Jean-Luc ; Campbell, Donald B. ; Jurgens, Raymond F. ; Slade, Martin A.

Author_Institution

Nat. Astron. & Ionosphere Center, Arecibo Obs., Puerto Rico

Volume

38

Issue

2

fYear

2000

fDate

3/1/2000 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1122

Lastpage

1133

Abstract

Three-dimensional (3D) maps of the nearside and polar regions of the Moon can be obtained with an Earth-based radar interferometer. This paper describes the theoretical background, experimental setup, and processing techniques for a sequence of observations performed with the Goldstone Solar System Radar in 1997. These data provide radar imagery and digital elevation models of the polar areas and other small regions at ~100 m spatial and ~50 m height resolutions. A geocoding procedure relying on the elevation measurements yields cartographically accurate products that are free of geometric distortions such as foreshortening

Keywords

lunar surface; radar applications; radioastronomical techniques; remote sensing by radar; DEM; Earth-based radar interferometry; Goldstone Solar System Radar; Moon; cartographically accurate product; digital elevation model; geocoding procedure; lunar surface topography; measurement technique; nearside; polar regions; processing; radar astronomy; radar imagery; radar mapping; radioastronomy; theoretical background; three dimensional map; Digital elevation models; Extraterrestrial measurements; Instruments; Laser radar; Moon; Radar imaging; Radar interferometry; Space vehicles; Spatial resolution; Surfaces;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Geoscience and Remote Sensing, IEEE Transactions on

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0196-2892

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/36.841991

Filename

841991