Need help resizing USGS map of moon, Clementine/Lunar Orbiter Options

[Antdoghalo]

Hello,

I am trying to find maps of the moon that have the least possible amount of shadows in them. The best I can find is the Clementine map but unfortunately, there are many data gaps in it. The LRO WAC and Kaguya maps on the USGS site have a lot of shadows on them.
However, there is a map that combines Clementine and Lunar Orbiter data but the problem is, my computer cannot even render this monster!!!
https://astrogeology.usgs.gov/search/map/Mo...saic_Global_59m

If someone with a more powerful computer could please help me get a version of this image that is 16384x8192 pixels, that would be great! I don't have access to Map a Planet to be able to get it.

[mcaplinger]

I am trying to find maps of the moon that have the least possible amount of shadows in them.

What about http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc/view_rdr/WAC_EMP ?

[threadworm]

China has a whole moon image available from Chang'e-1 which might do the job? It's 4Gb, and you'll need to register:

http://moon.bao.ac.cn/index_en.jsp

On the English version of the site, navigate to the lunar map, and look for the 'Download' link under 'base map' on the left hand side.

China's images all seem to be at local noon, so there are no (or minimal) shadows.

[Antdoghalo]

What about http://wms.lroc.asu.edu/lroc/view_rdr/WAC_EMP ?

Cool map but it doesn't go pole to pole. I need a cylindrical map. Though if you could find a cylindrical version that would be amazing!

I'm trying to navigate to the Chang'e map but I can't find what you are referring to Threadworm.

[mcaplinger]

Cool map but it doesn't go pole to pole.

You're going to have a hard time finding a shadowless map of the polar regions.

[Antdoghalo]

Yeah, Like Mercury, the moon doesn't like exposing it's ends to the sun.
I like the Clementine map primarily because it mostly has images at high noon and thus doesn't have so many shadows interfering with the coverage to where only at the poles do shadows from craters affect it.

[Phil Stooke]

Use the LOLA shaded relief map to get topography in the shadow areas. Registered LROC mosaics and LOLA relief can be merged to give quite nice effects.

Phil

(Malapert Mountain at upper left, Amundsen at lower right) - so you can use the LROC-WAC low phase angle mosaic with poles treated this way)

[JRehling]

For half the product that you're looking for, you could project an image taken from Earth of the full Moon to a cylindrical projection. That won't have any shadows in it; combining images with different nutation would give you ~59% of the Moon; and, images up to 10K pixels wide exist (I've even taken them). BUT… hard luck about the back side.

[Sean]

Here 'tis...

16384x8192 on WeTransfer

link is active for 7 days

[Antdoghalo]

Thanks! It looks really cool close up with the merging of 60's and 90's data!!!

For half the product that you're looking for, you could project an image taken from Earth of the full Moon to a cylindrical projection. That won't have any shadows in it; combining images with different nutation would give you ~59% of the Moon; and, images up to 10K pixels wide exist (I've even taken them). BUT… hard luck about the back side.

The moon is very shy about mooning us with it's posterior.

[bkellysky]

For what it's worth, I like the Unified Geological Map of the Moon at
https://astrogeology.usgs.gov/search/map/Mo...of_the_Moon_GIS
I downloaded it, then sent it in two pieces to Costco Photo, printed it as a poster and cut and pasted it together. It's up on my wall. Makes a nice poster.
bob k

[John Moore]

Hi Antdoghalo

I'm primarily addressing your inquiry concerning showing the least amount of shadows in, say, craters, rilles, montes...etc.

Have you tried in using the DEM options in LTVT, where it is possible to show such features from any sun angle -- on the horizon or directly overhead (below,
shows Aristoteles and Eudoxes under various lighting conditions - west and east, while the second image is that of the South Pole). Here, all the features are
being lit at the same constant sun angle, which are easily changeable right down to deep shadows. Moreover, you can also create impossibly-lit north or south
views; producing shadow effects on features that will never be observable from our Earth perspective.

These renders are really 'clay-like' in view, however, you can also blend any natural or un-natural texture map (LROC, Geological, topographic) in to the clay
version. You can use very high DEMs, view features on the limb in aerial perspective, zoom in, add grids...etc.

And if that wasn't enough, LTVT allows you to label each feature, its latitude and longitude, and diameter size...and a whole lot more, like, say, produce
actual shadow/light views of any feature (nearside, farside, the poles etc.,) for any time of the year -- past, present and future. In fact, if you have any image of
your own, from the Apollo era, the Lunar Orbiter...etc., then LTVT allows you to calibrate such, so as to add official coordinates and other data to them.

John
PS. Be warned, the above will look biased, as LTVT is a current project (book) near finalisation