Planetary Mapping

Planetary Mapping describes the history and process of mapping planets and satellites beyond the Earth.

Ronald Greeley (Edited by), Raymond M. Batson (Edited by)

9780521033732, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 15 February 2007

312 pages
27.6 x 20.9 x 1.5 cm, 0.706 kg

"The editors have generally succeeded in showing how they, with their colleagues, have solved the many problems associated with planetary cartography to produce the most comprehensive series of maps now available. The result is by far the most comprehensive book on the subject yet written....it can safely be recommended to a wide audience. It is technical enough to be a convenient reference for planetary scientists, astronomers and their graduate students. Jargon is kept to a minimum and only a few sections are mathematical, so it should be accessible to any reader with a little background in cartography or space science. It should satisfy people with a wide variety of interests: astronomy, the space program, exploration and discovery and cartography itself. As the best book of its kind it should be in every public and academic library of any size and on the shelves of many individuals interested in space exploration and cartography." (Ontario) Geography

Planetary Mapping describes the history and process of mapping planets and satellites beyond the Earth. Mapping planetary bodies is a unique process much different from ordinary terrestrial cartography. Although many kinds of imaging systems have been launched into interplanetary space, nearly all of them were designed for purposes other than map-making. Thus, special mapping techniques described in this book had to be invented to make use of images from space. Furthermore, planets and satellites are difficult to depict in maps. For instance, unlike on Earth, on planetary bodies there are no shorelines, rivers, roads or political boundaries to guide the map-maker. The book begins with an introduction to the differences between terrestrial and planetary mapping and continues with a general discussion of the history of planetary mapping. The fundamentals of cartographic techniques are described in detail in the next chapter. This is followed by sections on planetary nomenclature, geodetic considerations, and topographic and geologic mapping.

Preface
List of contributors
1. Introduction R. Greeley and R. M. Batson
2. History of planetary cartography R. M. Batson, E. A. Whitaker and D. E. Wilhelms
3. Cartography R. M. Batson
4. Planetary nomenclature M. E. Strobell and H. Masursky
5. Geodetic control M. E. Davies
6. Topographic mapping S. S. C. Wu and F. J. Doyle
7. Geologic mapping D. E. Wilhelms
Appendices R. M. Batson and J. L. Inge
Index.

Subject Areas: Astronomy, space & time [PG]