View source for Map-a-Planet

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=Map-a-Planet=
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==Description==
'''Map-a-Planet''' is a web-based service hosted by the [[USGS|USGS]] Astrogeology Branch for creating on-demand images of solar system planetary surfaces (including Moons) for which imagery exists. In the case of the Earth's Moon, the maps can be generated either from real photographic data (such as [[Clementine|Clementine]] images) or from artist's renditions (such as the Shaded Relief Map).<br /> <br /> 
==Additional Information==
* There are currently two slightly different '''Map-a-Planet''' sites.
** The [http://pdsmaps.wr.usgs.gov/PDS/public/explorer/html/moonpick.htm old site] identifies itself as being part of NASA's Planetary Data System (PDS), and offers a more limited set of textures and functions.
** The [http://www.mapaplanet.org/explorer/moon.html new site] offers new textures (''Near Infrared Enhanced Color'' and ''Lunar Orbiter Grayscale'') as well as a number of capabilities not available on the old site. The new capabilities include a Search box on the home page (linked to here), into which one can enter any partial IAU name and retrieve a set of pre-set links for drawing the region(s) associated with those names in Shaded Relief. On the image display page there is also a new button that lists all the IAU features whose centers fall within the current field of view.
* Both '''Map-a-Planet''' sites appear to be interfaces to the USGS's core [http://www.mapaplanet.org/explorer/help/wmsUserDoc.html MapMaker Web Map Service], which can also be accessed directly. ''the-Moon'' Wiki includes a [http://the-moon.us/wiki/space/showimage/MapMaker_Link_Generator.html MapMaker Link Generator] tool ''(click on link and select '''Open''' rather than '''Save''')'', which is an interactive JavaScript-enabled web page that will automatically generate links to MapMaker Web Map Service images based on your inputs of lunar latitude, longitude, and feature diameter. Such links can be pasted into ''the-Moon'' Wiki pages wherever an image is required. It also generates links to duplicate the image on the new '''Map-a-Planet''' page. Unlike the old site, all '''Map-a-Planet''' buttons appear to be functional, even when entered in this "backdoor" way.
* There has historically been some problem with the [[selenographic%20coordinates|selenodetic]] registration of the [[Clementine|Clementine]] and Shaded Relief lunar imagery. A [http://webgis.wr.usgs.gov/pigwad/down/moon_warp_clementine_750nm_basemap.htm corrected version] of the Clementine basemap has been available since late 2007. The '''''new''''' version of Map-a-Planet (but not the old one) offers both the problematic old Clementine basemap ("V1"), and a [[ULCN#ULCN_2005|ULCN 2005]] corrected one ("V2") that is apparently different from the 2007 version ("V2" was reportedly prepared in late 2008). The '''''new''''' Map-a-Planet also has a [http://astrogeology.usgs.gov/Projects/LunarOrbiterDigitization/ ULCN 2005 corrected] global [http://webgis.wr.usgs.gov/pigwad/down/Lunar_Orbiter_mosaic.htm Lunar Orbiter mosaic]. Coordinates read from the Lunar Orbiter mosaic or from "V2" of the Clementine basemap should be selenodetically correct. Those read from other map products may not be. <span class="membersnap">- Jim Mosher</span>
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==LPOD Articles==
[http://lpod.wikispaces.com/May%2018%2C%202008 Unified Lunar Data Tool] [http://lpod.wikispaces.com/March%2027%2C%202009 A New Standard]<br /> <br /> 
==Bibliography==
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