The Generation and Use of Numerical Shape Models for Irregular Solar System Objects

• Published in: Icarus (New York, N.Y. 1962) Vol. 103; no. 1; pp. 49 - 61
• Main Authors: Simonelli, Damon P., Thomas, Peter C., Carcich, Brian T., Veverka, Joseph
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Legacy CDMS Elsevier Inc 01.05.1993; Elsevier
• Subjects: Astronomy; Cosmochemistry. Extraterrestrial geology; Earth sciences; Earth, ocean, space; Exact sciences and technology; Extraterrestrial geology; Lunar And Planetary Exploration; Mars; Planets, their satellites and rings. Asteroids; Solar system; gravity field; Deimos; morphology; Image processing; methods; accuracy; cartography; photometry; Mars; high-resolution methods; digitization; numerical models; imagery; mosaics; tectonics; Moment of inertia; Phobos; albedo; Viking Program

We describe a procedure that allows the efficient generation of numerical shape models for irregular Solar System objects, where a numerical model is simply a table of evenly spaced body-centered latitudes and longitudes and their associated radii. This modeling technique uses a combination of data...