lroc images of different points of the moon over time, Trying to find images from each orbit of the LRO of polar regions Options

[Engineer817]

I've been trying to determine good potential landing zones on the lunar north pole but obviously I need more data then just level areas. My goal is to find how much light gets into different craters on the lunar north pole and what areas receive more then the usual 2 weeks of light. My plan of attack is to take 1 image each orbit from the lroc of the polar region and compile them into a video. Then averaging each pixel data value out to black or white and taking the final black area and overlaying it onto a topography map of that area, there by determining how much light is most likely to have entered that region and then eliminating the areas that are touched by light as sources of ice (obviously). A different approach for how much light an area receives another process however. The problem is not the programming, its the data to begin with. I don't know where to find the pictures I need. They must be in high resolution, and it would be best if they were from the same angle. Seeing as the LRO orbits right above the lunar poles, I don't think it would be too much of a problem. If any one could point me in the right direction I would be appreciative.

[Phil Stooke]

Ultimately you can find the images - by the thousands - here:


http://pds-imaging.jpl.nasa.gov/search/sea...tml#QuickSearch


This is NASA's Planetary Image Atlas. Choose LRO from the mission list, then search for images containing the north pole - you can enter latitude limits. But these are big images, you are looking at terabytes of data. The system is fairly easy to learn and I think there is online help.

The analysis you are interested in has been done already, and you might try searching for north polar illumination maps directly - the author of a paper or presentation might be willing to share pre-made maps which could save you a lot of time.

Phil