THE DESIGNATION OF SELENOGRAPHIC COORDINATES
Orientation coordinates in astronomical maps
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Orientation coordinates in astronomical maps
New mapping algorithms for domain oriented data-parallel computations, where the workload is distributed irregularly throughout the domain, but exhibits localized communication patterns are described. Researchers consider the problem of partitioning the domain for parallel processing in such a way that the workload on the most heavily loaded processor is minimized, subject to the constraint that the partition be perfectly rectilinear. Rectilinear partitions are useful on architectures that have a fast local mesh network. Discussed here is an improved algorithm for finding the optimal partitioning in one dimension, new algorithms for partitioning in two dimensions, and optimal partitioning in three dimensions. The application of these algorithms to real problems are discussed.
We have developed a technique that allows SIM to measure relative stellar positions with an accuracy of 1 micro-arcsecond at any time during its 5-yr mission. Unlike SIM's standard narrow-angle approach, Gridless Narrow Angle Astrometry (GNAA) does not rely on the global reference frame of grid stars that reaches full accuracy after 5 years. GNAA is simply the application of traditional single-telescope narrow angle techniques to SIM's narrow angle optical path delay measurements. In GNAA, a set of reference stars and a target star are observed at several baseline orientations. A linearized model uses delay measurements to solve for star positions and baseline orientations. A conformal transformation maps observations at different epochs to a common reference frame. The technique works on short period signals (P=days to months), allowing it to be applied to many of the known extra-solar planets, intriguing radio/X- ray binaries, and other periodic sources. The technique's accuracy is limited in the long-term by false acceleration due to a combination of reference star and target star proper motion. The science capability 1 micro-arcsecond astrometric precision - is unique to SIM.
Aviation research has demonstrated that Synthetic Vision (SV) technology can substantially enhance situation awareness, reduce pilot workload, improve aviation safety, and promote flight path control precision. SV, and related flight deck technologies are currently being extended for application in planetary exploration vehicles. SV, in particular, holds significant potential for many planetary missions since the SV presentation provides a computer-generated view for the flight crew of the terrain and other significant environmental characteristics independent of the outside visibility conditions, window locations, or vehicle attributes. SV allows unconstrained control of the computer-generated scene lighting, terrain coloring, and virtual camera angles which may provide invaluable visual cues to pilots/astronauts, not available from other vision technologies. In addition, important vehicle state information may be conformally displayed on the view such as forward and down velocities, altitude, and fuel remaining to enhance trajectory control and vehicle system status. The paper accompanies a conference demonstration that introduced a prototype NASA Synthetic Vision system for lunar lander spacecraft. The paper will describe technical challenges and potential solutions to SV applications for the lunar landing mission, including the requirements for high-resolution lunar terrain maps, accurate positioning and orientation, and lunar cockpit display concepts to support projected mission challenges.
We produced a geologic map of the Av-9 Numisia quadrangle of asteroid Vesta using Dawn spacecraft data to serve as a tool to understand the geologic relations of surface features in this region. These features include the plateau Vestalia Terra, a hill named Brumalia Tholus, and an unusual "dark ribbon" material crossing the majority of the map area. Stratigraphic relations suggest that Vestalia Terra is one of the oldest features on Vesta, despite a model crater age date similar to that of much of the surface of the asteroid. Cornelia, Numisia and Drusilla craters reveal bright and dark material in their walls, and both Cornelia and Numisia have smooth and pitted terrains on their floors suggestive of the release of volatiles during or shortly after the impacts that formed these craters. Cornelia, Fabia and Teia craters have extensive bright ejecta lobes. While diogenitic material has been identified in association with the bright Teia and Fabia ejecta, hydroxyl has been detected in the dark material within Cornelia, Numisia and Drusilla. Three large pit crater chains appear in the map area, with an orientation similar to the equatorial troughs that cut the majority of Vesta. Analysis of these features has led to several interpretations of the geological history of the region. Vestalia Terra appears to be mechanically stronger than the rest of Vesta. Brumalia Tholus may be the surface representation of a dike-fed laccolith. The dark ribbon feature is proposed to represent a long-runout ejecta flow from Drusilla crater.
A valley genesis model of the southern Aeolis Quadrangle, eastern Mars, is proposed. In response to widespread effusive volcanism in interstratified, ice-reach terrains, local subsidence occurred along fractures/faults, and produced scarps that intersected local aquifers. Heated spring discharges issuing from these scarps may have carved the valleys through a combination of downvalley water, ice, and debris flows, and headward erosion along stratal discontinuities and individual conduit faults and fractures. Fifty-six asymmetric scarps or ridges that are probable thrust faults are mapped. The faults exhibit an orientation vector mean of N 63 deg W +/- 11 deg and they transect the lava plains and the older plateau sequence units. The vector mean for the 264 valleys mapped is N 48 deg W +/- 12 deg, with a larger dispersion about the mean. The similar orientations displayed by thrust faults and valley axes suggest that valley locations are partly controlled by preexisting thrust faults and fracture systems.
Astronomical mapping by rotating satellite to determine own angle of orientation to celestial sphere
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 from limbs, terminators, and control points, and produces shape models that have some important advantages over analytical shape models. Accurate numerical shape models make it feasible to study irregular objects with a wide range of standard scientific analysis techniques. These applications include the determination of moments of inertia and surface gravity, the mapping of surface locations and structural orientations, photometric measurement and analysis, the reprojection and mosaicking of digital images, and the generation of albedo maps. The capabilities of our modeling procedure are illustrated through the development of an accurate numerical shape model for Phobos and the production of a global, high-resolution, high-pass-filtered digital image mosaic of this Martian moon. Other irregular objects that have been modeled, or are being modeled, include the asteroid Gaspra and the satellites Deimos, Amalthea, Epimetheus, Janus, Hyperion, and Proteus.
Abstract The functionality of materials is determined by their composition 1–4 and microstructure, that is, the distribution and orientation of crystalline grains, grain boundaries and the defects within them 5,6 . Until now, characterization techniques that map the distribution of grains, their orientation and the presence of defects have been limited to surface investigations, to spatial resolutions of a few hundred nanometres or to systems of thickness around 100 nm, thus requiring destructive sample preparation for measurements and preventing the study of system-representative volumes or the investigation of materials under operational conditions 7–15 . Here we present X-ray linear dichroic orientation tomography (XL-DOT), a quantitative, non-invasive technique that allows for an intragranular and intergranular characterization of extended polycrystalline and non-crystalline 16 materials in three dimensions. We present the detailed characterization of a polycrystalline sample of vanadium pentoxide (V 2 O 5 ), a key catalyst in the production of sulfuric acid 17 . We determine the nanoscale composition, microstructure and crystal orientation throughout the polycrystalline sample with 73 nm spatial resolution. We identify and characterize grains, as well as twist, tilt and twin grain boundaries. We further observe the creation and annihilation of topological defects promoted by the presence of volume crystallographic defects. The non-destructive and spectroscopic nature of our method opens the door to operando combined chemical and microstructural investigations 11,18 of functional materials, including energy, mechanical and quantum materials.
Tactile maps are sometimes used to help orient blind students to school and college campuses.
The plains regions of Venus exhibit a complex array of structural features, including deformation belts of various types, wrinkle ridges, grabens, and enigmatic radar-bright linears. Probably the most pervasive of these structures are the wrinkle ridges, which appear to be morphologically identical to their counterparts on the Moon and Mars. Almost all workers agree that wrinkle ridges result from horizontal compressive stresses in the crust; they either are explained as flexural fold structures, or alternatively as scarps or folds related to reverse faults. Wrinkle ridges generally are narrow, have small amplitudes, and commonly are closely spaced as well, characteristics that imply a shallow crustal origin. If wrinkle ridges are due to horizontally directed compressive stresses in the shallow crust, as generally has been inferred, then the trends of these features provide a means to map both local and regional orientations of principal stresses in the uppermost part of the venusian crust: maximum compressive stress is normal to the ridges, minimum compressive stress is normal to the topographic surface, and thus the wrinkle ridge trends trace the orientation of the intermediate principal stress. Because there are few plains areas on Venus totally devoid of wrinkle ridges, it should be possible to establish a number of interesting relationships on a near-global scale by mapping the trends of wrinkle ridges wherever they occur. The present study is addressing three questions: (1) Do the trends of wrinkle ridges define domains that are large relative to the sizes of individual plains regions? If so, can these domains be related to large-scale topographic or geologic features? (2) Are regional trends of wrinkle ridges affected by local features such as coronae? If so, is it possible to determine the relative ages of the far-field and local stresses from detailed study of trend inheritance or superposition relationships? (3) What is the relationship between wrinkle ridges and the larger ridges that make up ridge belts?
Helicopter flights performed at low-levels place high demands on pilots; they must simultaneously control the vehicle, avoid obstacles, and navigate. Therefore, pilots must correlate cues viewed in the external scene with information on map in order to maintain their geographical orientation. This is a particularly difficult task when helicopter pilots fly through visually unfamiliar terrain without highly detailed maps. As a result, pilots must often use estimates of elapsed time, distance traveled, and/or average speed in order to maintain a flight path indicated on a map during flight segments when these cues are absent. Therefore, the current study is concerned with the perception of speed, time, and distance, which we assume underlies the ability to orient oneself during these types of flight segments.
Rocks form in three dimensions through time and studying them provides information from inside dynamic systems we cannot otherwise observe. Yet how we typically access the interior of the rocks themselves to gain that information may limit our understanding and influence how we reconstruct the processes that formed them. Here, we demonstrate combined non-destructive 3D X-ray imaging techniques that produce quantitative densitometric and crystallographic maps of entire individual grains inside a rock. Olivine grains throughout a sample of the carbonaceous chondrite Northwest Africa (NWA) 11346 were each characterized by size, shape, composition, zoning intensity, and crystallographic orientation. The addition of 3D crystallographic mapping to calibrated 3D densitometric analysis—used to calculate chemical composition—demonstrates a fully non-destructive petrographic method and provides unique insight. For instance, in our case, using crystallographic data to delineate individual grains and then measuring the 3D size, shape, and composition of each distinguishes variably reset relict grains from those later crystallized after a melting event. Intersection in a 2D slice could not have led to this interpretation because the integration of three-dimensional size, rounding, composition, location, and crystallographic orientation measured from each grain forms the key patterns. Multimodal laboratory X-ray imaging has strong potential to advance 3D petrography.
The results of a combined grazing incidence wide-angle X-ray scattering (GIWAXS) and 4D scanning transmission microscopy (4D-STEM) analysis of the effects of thermal processing on poly(3[2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethoxy]-methylthiophene-2,5-diyl) are reported, a conjugated semiconducting polymer used as the active layer in organic electrochemical transistor devices. GIWAXS provides a measure of overall crystallinity in the film, while 4D-STEM produces real-space maps of the morphology and orientation of individual crystallites along with their spatial extent and distribution. The sensitivity of the 4D-STEM detector allows for collection of electron diffraction patterns at each position in an image scan while limiting the imparted electron dose to below the damage threshold. In conclusion, the effects of heat treatment on the distribution and type of crystallites present in the films is determined.
Error analysis of orientation methods for extraterrestrial stereophotogrammetric mapping
Star maps for recognition and attitude orientation aids as function of stereographic display realism in manned space flight
Efforts have continued to improve radarclinometry in spite of the fact that the theory and algorithms still predate the development of the radiometrically calibrated radar upon which they must depend in order to achieve metric precision. Such efforts help to insure the availability of the technique for data returned by the Venus Radar Mapper. Even now, compensation for layover and production of synthesized stereo enhance geologic interpretability of radar images. The theory of radarclinometry utilizes a knowledge of the relation between pixel DN value and terrain surface orientation to produce a topographic map. The process may be conceived in terms of a surface integral which develops away from a topographic profile as available ground truth. Alternatively, in consideration of the unavailability of ground truth in extraterrestrial applications, radarclinometry may develop as a line integral developing from a single point, providing reasonable assumptions about the mathematical nature of local curvature.
New 8 to 13 micron array camera images of the central kiloparsec of Seyfert 2 galaxy NGC 1068 resolve structure that is similar to that observed at visible and radio wavelengths. The images reveal an infrared source which is extended and asymmetric, with its long axis oriented at P.A. 33 deg. Maps of the spatial distribution of 8 to 13 micron color temperature and warm dust opacity are derived from the multiwavelength infrared images. The results suggest that there exist two pointlike luminosity sources in the central regions of NGC 1068, with the brighter source at the nucleus and the fainter one some 100 pc to the northeast. This geometry strengthens the possibility that the 10 micron emission observed from grains in the nucleus is powered by a nonthermal source. In the context of earlier visible and radio studies, these results considerably strengthen the case for jet induced star formation in NGC 1068.