USGS

Planetary Map Index

Index of Maps of the Planets and Satellites

Original publication by J.L. Inge and R.M. Batson, 1992.

MAP SERIES

The kinds of maps and the features of major map series are discussed below for each mapped body. A history of the lunar mapping program was given by Kopal and Carder (1974). Batson and others (1990) discussed the history of planetary mapping.

MERCURY:

In 1974 Mariner 10 returned the first images of Mercury, which were compiled as a semicontrolled photomosaic. Subsequent flybys resulted in acquisition of image data sufficient to map about 50% of the surface of Mercury. Nine shaded relief maps were prepared as a series at a scale of 1:5,000,000. Some of these were expanded to incorporate parts of adjacent quadrangles that contain insufficient data to justify their publication as separate maps. The mapping was described by Davies and Batson (1975), and the maps and related mosaics were featured in the Atlas of Mercury (Davies and others, 1978). Seven geologic maps have been prepared on these base maps. Additional maps of Mercury include a special shaded relief, 1:5,000,000-scale map of the Caloris basin, prepared as part of a planetary basins series; two planetwide shaded relief maps, one with albedo compilations; and a shaded relief, 1:10,000,000-scale sheet in the Lambert Azimuthal Equal-Area projection.

VENUS:

The only extensive series of maps of Venus is a set of 27 contoured radar-image mosaics published by the Soviet Union. These maps utilize data returned by the Venera 15 and 16 spacecraft and were compiled at a scale of 1:5,000,000.

Compilations by the USGS include three 1:50,000,000-scale planetwide sheets based on Pioneer Venus data, one with color- coded contour bands superposed over a digital shaded relief base. The other two compilations are planning maps that feature a suppressed-contrast version of the digital shaded relief. One contains contour lines.

In a historic joint effort by the United States and the Soviet Union in 1989, two versions centered over the northern hemisphere of the planet were prepared at a scale of 1:15,000,000. Both sheets are based on Venera and Pioneer Venus data; one shows color-coded contour bands superposed over an airbrush portrayal of the shaded relief while the other presents only the shaded relief. A geomorphic/geologic map on the shaded relief base was prepared by the Soviets and published by the USGS.

MOON:

Beginning in 1960, the lunar mapping program, under the auspices of ACIC (now DMAAC) and AMS (now DMATC), compiled many shaded relief maps, photo maps, and controlled photomosaics, primarily in support of the Apollo missions. Photo maps published by these agencies are listed here as controlled photomosaics (CM), and topographic photomaps are listed as controlled photomosaics with contours and nomenclature (CMT). Shaded relief maps with contours and names are identified as RT. These designators are used in the index for consistency with listings of USGS maps; they do not appear on the printed maps.

A variety of small-scale shaded relief maps, geologic maps, and photomosaics were made that cover selected lunar regions and the entire lunar surface at scales ranging from 1:2,000,000 to 1:10,000,000. The most recent synoptic compilation is a series of 1:5,000,000-scale maps showing shaded relief and shaded relief with surface markings published by the USGS.

The 1:1,000,000-scale Lunar Astronautical Chart (LAC) series is based almost exclusively on Earth-based pictures and covers only the Lunar nearside. The 44 air brushed shaded relief and albedo maps in this series show contours (with some exceptions) and nomenclature. The shaded relief map, excluding all other map information, is printed on the reverse side of each of these sheets. All but two of the nearside maps were compiled by the USGS, as were geologic maps based on the LAC series. Nine quadrangles in the LAC series were revised using Lunar Orbiter and Apollo photo graphs and published in 1976 through 1978. Two new compilations of farside quad rangles are included in this series and all but two of the nearside maps were compiled by the USGS.

The Apollo Intermediate Chart (AIC) 1:500,000-scale series, limited to the lunar nearside equatorial region, was compiled from Earth-based pictures and additional image data provided by the Lunar Orbiter spacecraft. Twenty shaded relief and albedo maps, including feature elevations and nomenclature were prepared. The shaded relief is also printed on the reverse side of these sheets, unencumbered by other map data.

Lunar site maps, produced to support study of potential Apollo landing sites, are identified as ORB maps. They cover selected regions of the nearside at scales of 1:100,000 and 1:25,000. Shaded relief maps containing contours and nomenclature and photomaps are available. Maps of several scientific sites have also been given an ORB designation in these lists. These maps are not part of the original ORB series, although Lunar Orbiter images are used to prepare the maps. The designation was derived from data in the Lunar Cartographic Dossier (Schimerman, 1975) and has been applied solely to assist sorting of the indexes; the sheets are normally identified only by a feature name. The sheets were prepared at scales of 1:250,000 and 1:25,000. Sources for the photomap, topographic photomap, and shaded relief compilations were Lunar Orbiter III and V medium and high resolution images; only the photomaps and shaded relief maps show contours and nomenclature.

An especially large number of maps are available at scales of 1:250,000, 1:50,000, and 1:10,000 as a series called Lunar Topographic Orthophotomaps (LTO) and Lunar Orthophotomaps (LO). Over 250 sheets were compiled in each version from images returned by Apollos 15, 16, and 17. The LTO sheets contain a graticule, contours, and names, while the LO maps display the photomosaic unencumbered by any linework except for border ticks. Several geologic maps have been prepared in the LTO format.

Ranger Lunar Charts (RLC) with scales ranging from 1:1,000,000 to 1:1,000 and Surveyor landing-site maps with scales as large as 1:100 are the largest scale published lunar maps.

MARS:

Images of Mars have been returned by several spacecraft missions beginning in 1965 with the Mariner 4 flyby of the planet. Subsequent missions by Mariner 6 and 7 provided coverage that allowed compilation of a 1:25,000,000-scale synoptic map by AMS. The successful orbiting of Mars by Mariner 9 in 1971 provided images of sufficient resolution for the compilation of two 1:25,000,000-scale maps: a shaded relief and a topographic map. The Mars Chart (MC) series, 30 shaded relief maps at 1:5,000,000 scale, is supplemented by twenty maps showing shaded relief combined with albedo markings. The series was described by Batson and others (1979). Geologic maps have been prepared by using all 30 MC maps as bases. Several special area maps were also prepared in support of the Mars 4 and 5 Missions of the U.S.S.R. and in support of preliminary landing site selections for the Viking 1 and 2 Missions.

Image data returned by the Viking 1 and 2 orbiters have been used to prepare 1:25,000,000- and 1:15,000,000-scale maps showing shaded relief and shaded relief with albedo. Geologic and topographic maps based on these sheets are also available.

The superior resolution of Viking images has allowed compilation of two major larger scale series: one series of 140 1:2,000,000-scale controlled photomosaics that are subdivisions of the MC format and a second series of more than 126 1:500,000-scale controlled photomosaics on a "Mars Transverse Mercator" or MTM projection system. Each of the 18 Transverse Mercator zones covers 20o of longitude. Maps north and south of lat 72o are on a Polar Stereographic projection. This MTM series contains high resolution Viking Orbiter images that do not provide uniform coverage of the martian surface. Maps in this series are prepared for areas of special scientific interest; thus the areas may not necessarily be contiguous. The 1:2,000,000-scale photomosaics have been used to revise the entire 1:5,000,000-scale MC series of shaded relief maps. Several geologic, topographic, and shaded relief portrayals are also available at a scale of 1:2,000,000.

A digital image map of Mars was made with the images used in the 1:2,000,000 controlled photomosaic series. This map was made by processing Viking Orbiter images in the computer to reduce radiometric and geometric distortions and to form a geodetically controlled Mosaicked Digital Image Model, or MDIM. The MDIM was subdivided into segments, or "tiles," with the same latitude/longitude boundaries as those used on the MTM map series. A digital terrain model (DTM) was compiled by digitizing Mars topographic maps to form a digital array of elevations in a format compatible with the MDIM. These items have been published on CD-ROM optical disks.

Panoramas of the martian horizon as imaged by the Viking 1 and 2 Landers (40 sheets) are available as sets.

JOVIAN SATELLITES:

Global maps of Io, Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto have been prepared at scales of 1:25,000,000 and 1:15,000,000. Shaded relief portrayals and an intensified natural-color map of Io are available. At a scale of 1:5,000,000, map series showing shaded relief with surface markings have been prepared for all satellites except Callisto, for which a series of controlled photomosaics is available. Selected regions of Io have been mosaicked at larger scales. Some geologic compilations are available at 1:5,000,000 scale for Io and Ganymede. Jovian satellite cartography was described by Batson and others (1980). Details of the Voyager missions to Jupiter were described by, among others, Smith et al. (1979a, 1979b).

SATURNIAN SATELLITES:

Maps of Mimas, Enceladus, Rhea, Tethys, Dione, and Iapetus are available only as planetwide compilations at scales of 1:2,000,000 to 1:10,000,000. Only a shaded relief map has been made for Mimas. For the others, both controlled photomosaics and shaded relief with surface markings maps are available. A set of six Lambert Equal-Area maps of Rhea were prepared as an adjunct to a Mercator and Polar Stereographic-based controlled photomosaic. The mapping program has been described by Batson and others (1984).

URANIAN SATELLITES:

A set of three sheets is available showing a controlled photomosaic and a shaded relief portrayal of each of Uranus' satellites. The scale of the maps ranges from 1:2,000,000 to 1:10,000,000. All maps are based on Polar Stereographic projections. Details of the Voyager 2 mission to Uranus were given by Smith et al. (1986).

NEPTUNIAN SATELLITES:

Only three maps have been prepared of Triton: one shaded relief rendition at 1:15,000,000 scale and a shaded relief map and a controlled photomosaic at 1:5,000,000-scale. The controlled photomosaic shows intensified natural color. The Voyager 2 mission to Neptune was described by Smith et al. (1989).