Lunar polar topography derived from Clementine stereoimages

Abstract

Clementine stereoimagery has been used to produce digital elevation models of the Moon, at a scale of ~1 km/pixel. These models cover regions poleward of 60? in both hemispheres and reveal topography beyond that covered by the Clementine laser altimeter or Earth-based radar. By combining these polar terrain models with the current Clementine laser altimeter data we have produced a global topographic map of the lunar surface. Several topographic features in the new polar topographic data set are described, including three previously unrecognized pre-Nectarian impact basins. Several known basins have also been mapped, including the southern extent of the South Pole-Aitken basin, and other previously suspected basins have been verified.