Publisher USGS Astrogeology Science Center Publication Date 8 June 2012 Author International Astronomical Union (IAU) Originator Group Added to Astropedia 2 October 2017 Modified 8 January 2018 General Purpose Lecture Notes in Geoinformation and Cartography, 6, (4), pp. (2011) Planetary Nomenclature: a Representation of Human Culture and Alien Landscapes. International Astronomical Union, Percy Lund, Humphries and Co Ltd, 196 p. Gemini Drive, Flagstaff, Arizona 86001, or by e-mail: M.A., Müller, K. Readers noting errors or omissions are urged to communicate them to the USGS Astrogeology Science Center, Attention Rosalyn Hayward, 2255 N. As such, it is advised that such maps display appropriate nomenclature completely and accurately when possible using the map’s defined scale.Īlthough we have attempted to check the accuracy of all data in this volume, we realize that some errors will remain in a work of this size. Maps for digital or hard-copy distribution can be critically compared using internationally adopted nomenclature. The current nomenclature database is managed by the Astrogeology Science Center on behalf of the IAU (website: ). For Mercury, large valleys are named after abandoned cities (or towns or settlements) of antiquity. For example, on Mars, larger craters are named after deceased scientists, especially those who have contributed significantly to the study of Mars writers and others who have contributed to the lore of Mars.

The names used within the gazetteer come from cultures all over the world and generally follow a theme for a feature type and body. In the 1960’s, as detailed remotely sensed images became available, the need of a single planetary gazetteer of official names became critical for effective scientific communication. Following this first listing, several more publications – including catalogs for Mars – followed. The report of this committee, 'Named Lunar Formations' was the first systematic listing of lunar nomenclature (Blagg 1935). The IAU appointed Mary Blagg and several other astronomers to the newly commissioned nomenclature committee, chaired by H. The first goals were to normalize various systems used in lunar and Martian nomenclatures across different countries. The IAU has been the authority of planetary and satellite nomenclature since its first organizational meeting in Brussels in 1919.

These data exist as a 75? by 75? harmonic field.Planetary nomenclature, like terrestrial nomenclature, is used to uniquely identify a feature on the surface of a planet or satellite so that the feature can be easily located, described, and discussed (Hargitai 2011). An additional 1,500 orbits were obtained following orbit-circularization in mid-1993. Approximately 950 orbits of high-resolution gravity observations were obtained between September 1992 and May 1993 while Magellan was in an elliptical orbit with a periapsis near 175 km and an apoapsis near 8,000 km. High resolution Doppler tracking of the spacecraft took place from September 1992 through October 1994 (mission cycles 4, 5, 6). Incidence angles varied between about 20? and 45?. The primary polarization mode was horizontal-transmit, horizontal-receive (HH), but additional data for selected areas were collected for the vertical polarization sense. The SAR observations were projected to a 75-m nominal horizontal resolution, and these full-resolution data compose the image base used in geologic mapping. Ninety-eight percent of the surface was mapped with radar resolution on the order of 120 meters. Radar imaging, altimetric, and radiometric mapping of the Venusian surface was done in mission cycles 1, 2, and 3 from September 1990 until September 1992. The transmitter and receiver systems were used to collect three data sets: (1) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of the surface, (2) passive microwave thermal emission observations, and (3) measurements of the backscattered power at small angles of incidence, which were processed to yield altimetric data.

The Magellan spacecraft carried a 12.6-cm radar system to map the surface of Venus. Magellan Mission objectives included: (1) improving knowledge of the geological processes, surface properties, and geologic history of Venus by analysis of surface radar characteristics, topography, and morphology, and (2) improving the knowledge of the geophysics of Venus by analysis of Venusian gravity. The Magellan spacecraft orbited Venus from August 10, 1990, until it plunged into the Venusian atmosphere on October 12, 1994.

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