Mars Control Vectors
Mars Control Vectors

Distributed here are control network data for solar system bodies (planets, moons, and asteroids) other than the Earth. Each control network is essentially a set of photogrammetric or radargrammetric solution (input and output) files. The input files consist of, aside from a priori information, measurements of common points (control points, or sometimes tie points) on images of a planetary body. The output files include the coordinates of the control points and revised orientation information (camera pointing) for the images. The primary use of such information is for the creation of image mosaics of the planetary body. However, these solutions can also provide fundamental data on the size of the body, its rotation period, and the direction of its polar axis in space. The control point coordinates also usually serve to define the fundamental coordinate system for the body in question. 

The source for these control networks are primarily work done at the RAND Corporation, Santa Monica, CA, by Merton E. Davies and Timothy Colvin, and by the Astrogeology Team of the U. S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ. Information, such as references and data if available, will also gradually be added regarding control networks created by others, such as for Mercury, Phobos and Deimos (the moons of Mars), Jupiter's moon Io, and the asteroid Eros.

Objects are listed below in increasing distance from the Sun, and then for moons by increasing distance from the planet and for asteroids by increasing number. Objects for which RAND control networks exist are indicated with a letter 'R'. Objects for which USGS control networks exist are indicated with a letter 'G'. Object for which control networks by others exist are indicated with a letter 'O'.

Table of Contents

Mercury R O
Venus R
Moon1 R
Mars R G
Phobos O
Deimos O
Asteroids  
243 Ida R
433 Eros O
951 Gaspra R
Jupiter  
Io R G O
Europa R G
Ganymede R G
Callisto R G
Saturn  
Mimas R G
Enceladus R G
Tethys R G
Dione R G
Rhea R G
Hyperion G
Iapetus R
Uranus  
Ariel R
Umbriel R
Titania R
Oberon R
Miranda R
Neptune  
Triton R

Notes

1 USGS is currently working on improving the lunar control network(s).
2 RAND measurements exist for Hyperion, but no control network was ever completed for it due to its chaotic rotation.
R Objects for which RAND control networks exist
G Objects for which USGS control networks exist
O Object for which control networks by others exist

For more information please contact Brent Archinal (barchinal@usgs.gov).