Horizon Topography and the Location Of Viking Lander 2

The location of Viking Lander 2 on Mars is determined by matching features seen on the horizon with hills visible in Viking Orbiter images. Three possible positions are found, with one being preferred, confirming and refining the position determined previously by radio tracking. The often stated opi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Earth, moon, and planets moon, and planets, 1997-01, Vol.76 (1-2), p.47-65
Main Author: Stooke, Philip J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Ejecta
Image enhancement
Image processing
Mars
Radio tracking
Space exploration
Viking lander spacecraft
Viking orbiter spacecraft
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Summary:The location of Viking Lander 2 on Mars is determined by matching features seen on the horizon with hills visible in Viking Orbiter images. Three possible positions are found, with one being preferred, confirming and refining the position determined previously by radio tracking. The often stated opinion that a lobe of ejecta from the large crater Mie is visible in lander images is shown to be false. The most prominent hill on the eastern horizonis Goldstone, a pedestal crater 8 km from the lander. Another hill16 km from the preferred position is just visible to the north. The image processing procedures used to enhance visibility of low relief features on the horizon should be useful for several future missions.
ISSN:0167-9295
1573-0794
DOI:10.1023/A:1006041227129