Berlin 2005 – scientific programme

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EP: Extraterrestrische Physik

EP 11: Mond und kleine Körper

EP 11.4: Talk

Monday, March 7, 2005, 17:45–18:00, TU BH349

Imaging of Phobos by the HRSC on Mars-Express — •Bernd Giese, J. Oberst, H. Hoffmann, K. D. Matz, T. Roatsch, and and the HRSC Co-I Team — DLR-Institut für Planetenforschung, Rutherfordstr. 2, 12489 Berlin

From August through November 2004, Mars Express had several encounters, as close as 150 km, with Phobos. During these flybys, the High-Resolution Stereo Camera (HRSC) on board obtained images of this Martian satellite (13x11x9 km) in stereo and color, showing detail down to 6 m resolution. Utilizing the stereo images and methods of photogrammetry we derived a digital elevation model covering approx. 1/4 of the satellite’s surface. This terrain model allowed us to perform detailed morphological and spectro-photometric studies. The high geometrical precision of the imaging experiment also permitted us to improve the orbit of Phobos. Using ground control points we found that the satellite has advanced by  6 sec. (corresponding to 12 km along the orbit) beyond what is predicted by its ephemeris from the Viking era.