CARTOGRAPHIC METHOD OF THE RESEARCH AND INTERPRETATION OF THE
SPACE IMAGES OF THE TERRESTRIAL PLANETS
S.
Pugacheva
Moscow
State University,
Russia
pugach@sai.msu.ru
This paper presents the results of the
photometric study of the structure of the surface layer of regolith in
different regions of the Mercury, Venus, Mars and Moon. The elemental mapping of the photometric parameters of
the separate areas of the surface is very
useful method for study of morphology and origin of the multi-ringed basins. The
maps of the structure of the surface are constructed for areas of the localized
by the impact from data acquired by space mission the “Clementine”, “Lunar
Prospector”, “Mariner 10”,
“Mars Express”, “Magellan” and others. The best space images of the high resolution
are used as the basic material for investigation. The different types of
morphological formations of the surface of the planets are allocated and the
main morphological parameters are determined. The cartographic method described
in this paper and results of investigations of the planet’s surface show that
the structure of the surface of the planets and the Moon’s surface is similar.
The main elements of the relief of the planets are craters and multi-ringed
basins. A cartographic method is used to analyze properties of the system of
concentric depressions inside the ring structures. The basin South Pole –
Aitken is represented as a geophysical, compositionally, and topographically
unique lunar formation. In the paper are used some digital models to obtain
preliminary estimates of the structure and characteristics of the regolith of
the planets from experimental results. The technique employed is similar to
that conventionally for investigation of the lunar structure. The digital
models of the multiple scattering of light are considered and optical, physical
and geological properties of the natural regolith of the surface layer of the
Moon and Mercury are estimated. The present work allows to study optical
characteristics of surface and to determine texture roughness and material
composition of the ejecta of the planet terrains in the submillimetric and
centimetric range. According to these results, there may be a possibility to
describe the real case of natural regolith surface, and to investigate specific
anomalous of the local KREEP assimilation.