Feature Name Search

Enter a feature name to search for maps covering that feature.

Introduction

The Search Maps by Feature Name tool looks for maps covering a given planetary feature by cross-referencing the Planetary Map Index entries against the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The search tool first searches the Gazetteer for matching provisional and approved feature names, then searches for maps with overlapping extents for each matching feature found in the Gazetteer. A few important notes to keep in mind when using this tool:

• Not all maps are labeled with feature nomenclature.
• Feature names that were not approved by the IAU General Assembly at the time a map was printed will probably not appear on that map. For more information about the approval process for planetary nomenclature, refer to How Names are Approved and the approval status section of the Specifics of the Gazetteer on the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature web site.
• This search tool does not search for feature names that have been dropped from the Gazetteer.
• This search tool is only as good as our data. There are over 1,500 map listings in our database, and the records are currently under review for completeness and accuracy, but it's a pretty big job. Additionally, map coordinate referencing has changed over the years as knowledge about the planetary bodies and technology have improved, and map extents recorded in our database may no longer be accurate according to current IAU coordinate reference standards.

Results

For a successful search, there will be a column on the left side of the page listing all the matching feature names and the name of the planetary body that feature is located on. Click the feature name to view all maps covering that feature. If the magnifying glass button is shown, click it to view an image of the feature. If the red X button is displayed, an image of the feature is not available.

The list of matching maps covering these features will appear in a table on the right side of the page, with one map listed per row. The number of features and maps covering those features will be reported at the bottom of the search results table.

Click binoculars in the map listing table to search the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature for named features covered by the map listed. The search results will open in a new window.

System

The System column shows with which planetary system the matching map and feature is associated. For moons, this will be the planet the moon orbits. For planets, this will be the planet name. For other bodies, the category assigned to those objects will be listed (such as Asteroids).

The system name is linked to the Planetary Map Index listing of all maps of bodies in that system.

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Body

The Body column shows with which planet, moon, or other planetary body the map covers.

The body name is linked to the Planetary Map Index listing of all maps of that body.

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Feature

The Feature column lists the feature name matching the search term used to locate this map listing.

The feature name is linked to the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature detail page for that feature, which shows all the related information related to that feature.

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Feature Type

The Feature Type column lists the feature type of the feature listed in the Feature column. Refer to the Feature Descriptor Terms page on the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature web site for more information about feature types.

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Map

The Map column lists the title of a map covering the matching feature.

The map title is linked to the Planetary Map Index detail page for that map, which shows all the related information related to that map, such as authorship, digital download link, date of publication, etc.

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Pub.# (Publication Number)

The Pub.# (Publication Number) column lists the publication number of the listed map.

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