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GEOPHYSICAL RESEARCH LETTERS, VOL. 31, L23701, doi:10.1029/2004GL021197, 2004

Galileo stereo topography of the lunar north polar region

Paul M. Schenk

Lunar and Planetary Institute, Houston, Texas, USA


D. Ben J. Bussey

Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Laurel, Maryland, USA


Abstract

Estimates of the elevation of the lunar polar regions are uncertain to a few km. Galileo stereo images of the north polar region were used to derive a new topographic map, partially filling the gap in Clementine LIDAR topography northward of 80°, and providing an independent constraint on lunar polar topography and solar illumination. Our Galileo elevation model has an estimated vertical precision of ∼200 m, and a measurement footprint of ∼9 km. These new data show that the north polar region (frontside) is, to within the margin of error, consistent with radar derived estimates.

Received 4 August 2004; accepted 19 October 2004; published 7 December 2004.

Index Terms: 5462 Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Polar regions; 5494 Planetology: Solid Surface Planets: Instruments and techniques; 6250 Planetology: Solar System Objects: Moon (1221).

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Citation: Schenk, P. M., and D. B. J. Bussey (2004), Galileo stereo topography of the lunar north polar region, Geophys. Res. Lett., 31, L23701, doi:10.1029/2004GL021197.