ISPRS 2001 Validation of the USGS Sensor Model for Topographic Mapping of Venus Using Magellan Radar Stereoimagery

The Magellan spacecraft went into Venus orbit in 1990 and by 1992 had made three complete cycles of polar orbits, each cycle covering the full range of longitudes. During this time the spacecraft obtained synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of >96% of the planet at a resolution of 75 m/pixel. Images taken with a decreased look angle from vertical, primarily during Cycle 3, provide stereo coverage of 17% of the planet when combined with images with same-side illumination from earlier in the mission. The stereo geometry of these images is extremely favorable, allowing elevation measurements with an estimated vertical precision (EP) of ~10 m. Magellan also obtained radar altimetry data at a horizontal resolution of 10x25 km, but photogrammetric analysis of the stereoimagery can yield topographic maps with a horizontal resolution more than an order of magnitude superior to that of the altimeter.

Mimetype

application/pdf

Filename

isprs_etm_OCT01_howington_venus_radar.pdf

Publisher

ISPRS

Originator

E. Howington-Kraus, R. L. Kirk, D. Galuszka, T. M. Hare, B. L. Redding

Group

Astrogeology

Added to Astropedia

15 May 2012

Modified

9 July 2013

General

Geospatial Data Presentation Form

Document

Keywords

Target

Venus

Theme

Topography

Mission

Magellan

Geospatial Information

Quad Name