U.S.

Department of the Interior Prepared for the Scientific Investigations Map 3316
U.S. Geological Survey National Aeronautics and Space Administration Sheet 2 of 2

180° 0°
55° –55°

Ro wland
21
0 °E 15
0°E MAP DESCRIPTION
60° This map is based on data from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA; Smith and
others, 2010), an instrument on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA)
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) spacecraft (Tooley and others, 2010). The image used for
the base of this map represents more than 6.5 billion measurements gathered between July 2009
B i r k h o f f and July 2013, adjusted for consistency in the coordinate system described below, and then
Av o g a d r o converted to lunar radii (Mazarico and others, 2012). Elevations were computed by subtracting
the lunar reference radius of 1737.4 kilometers (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Project Lunar
S o m m e r fe l d Geodesy and Cartography Working Group, 2008; Archinal and others, 2011) from the surface
radius measurements. Thus elevation values are the distance above or below the reference
sphere. The average accuracy of each point after crossover correction is better than 20 meters (m)
in horizontal position and ~1 m in radius (Mazarico and others, 2012). For the Mercator portion,
these measurements were converted into a digital elevation model (DEM; Neumann and others,
70° Gamo w 2011) using Generic Mapping Tools software (Wessel and Smith, 1998), with a resolution of
0.015625 degrees per pixel, or 64 pixels per degree. In projection, the pixels are 473.8 m in size
at the equator. Gaps between tracks of 1–2 km are common, and some gaps of as much as 4 km
0°E
NOMENCLATURE 33
0°
E 30
°E
Clavius
Names on this sheet are approved by the IAU. Only larger features shown. For a complete list –60°
of the IAU-approved nomenclature for the Moon, see the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature at
http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
This map was made possible with thanks to NASA, the LRO mission, and the LOLA team.
The map was funded by NASA's Planetary Geology and Geophysics Cartography Program.
REFERENCES
Archinal, B.A. (Chair), A’Hearn, M.F., Bowell, E., Conrad, A., Consolmagno, G.J., Courtin, R.,
Fukushima, T., Hestroffer, D., Hilton, J.L., Krasinsky, G.A., Neumann, G.A., Oberst, J.,
Seidelmann, P.K., Stooke, P., Tholen, D.J., Thomas, P.C., and Williams, I.P., 2011, Report of –70°
the IAU Working Group on cartographic coordinates and rotational elements—2009: Celestial
Mechanics and Dynamical Astronomy, v. 109, no. 2, p. 101–135, doi: 10.1007/s10569-010-

12

60
0°
occur near the equator. DEM points located in these gaps were filled by interpolation (Smith and 9320-4.

0°

°E
30
24

E
others, 2011). For the polar portion, the LOLA elevation points were used to create a DEM at
240 meters per pixel. The high and low elevations noted on the map and listed on the scale bar
are approximate.
PROJECTION
The Mercator projection is used between latitudes ±57°, with a central meridian at 0°
longitude and latitude equal to the nominal scale at 0°. The Polar Stereographic projection is used
for the regions north of the +55° parallel and south of the –55° parallel with a central meridian
S c h w ar z s c h i l d
80° set for both at 0° and a latitude of true scale at +90° and -90° respectively. The adopted spherical
radius used to define the map scale is 1737.4 km (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Project Lunar
Co mpto n Geodesy and Cartography Working Group, 2008; Archinal and others, 2011).
COORDINATE SYSTEM
Po czo butt
The LOLA data were initially referenced to an internally consistent inertial coordinate
Ro z h d e s tv e n sk i y system, derived from tracking of the LRO spacecraft. By adopting appropriate values for the
orientation of the Moon as defined by the International Astronomical Union (IAU; Archinal and
others, 2011), these inertial coordinates were converted into the planet-fixed coordinates
(longitude and latitude) used on this map. The coordinate system defined for this product is the
mean Earth/polar axis (ME) system, sometimes called the mean Earth/rotation axis system. The
Be l'ko v ich
270°E 90°E ME system is the method most often used for cartographic products of the past (Davies and
Bria ncho n Colvin, 2000). Values for the orientation of the Moon were derived from the Jet Propulsion
Laboratory Developmental Ephemeris (DE) 421 planetary ephemeris (Williams and others, 2008;
Folkner and others, 2008; 2009) and rotated into the ME system.
Longitude increases to the east and latitude is planetocentric as allowed in accordance with
Xenophane s current international and NASA standards (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Project Lunar Geodesy
MARE and Cartography Working Group, 2008; Archinal and others, 2011). The intersection of the lunar
HUMBOLDTIANUM equator and prime meridian occurs at what can be called the Moon’s “mean sub-Earth point.”
The concept of a lunar “sub-Earth point” derives from the fact that the Moon’s rotation is tidally
locked to the Earth. The actual sub-Earth point on the Moon varies slightly due to orbital
eccentricity, inclination, and other factors, so a “mean sub-Earth point” is used to define the point
on the lunar surface where longitude equals 0°. This point does not coincide with any prominent
80°
crater or other lunar surface feature (Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Project Lunar Geodesy and
Cartography Working Group, 2008; Archinal and others, 2011).
Py tha gora s
MAPPING TECHNIQUES
To create the topographic base image, the original DEM that was produced by the LOLA
team in the Simple Cylindrical projection with a resolution of 64 pixels per degree, was projected
Me ton
into the Mercator and Polar Stereographic pieces. A shaded relief map was generated from each
Ba bba ge
DEM with a sun angle of 45° from horizontal and a sun azimuth of 270°, as measured clockwise
from north with no vertical exaggeration. The DEM values were then mapped to a global color
Davies, M.E., and Colvin, T.R., 2000, Lunar coordinates in the regions of the Apollo landers:
Journal of Geophysical Research, v. 105, no. E8, p. 20,277–20,280.
Folkner, W.M., Williams, J.G., and Boggs, D.H., 2008, The planetary and lunar ephemeris DE 421:
Jet Propulsion Laboratory Memorandum IOM 343R-08-003, 31 p., at
ftp://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/eph/planets/ioms/de421.iom.v1.pdf.
Folkner, W.M., Williams, J.G., and Boggs, D.H., 2009, The planetary and lunar ephemeris DE 421:
Interplanetary Network Progress Report 42-178, 34 p., at
http://ipnpr.jpl.nasa.gov/progress_report/42-178/178C.pdf. –80°
Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Project Lunar Geodesy and Cartography Working Group, 2008, A
B a i l l y
standardized lunar coordinate system for the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter and lunar datas-
ets: Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Project and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Project Lunar
Geodesy and Cartography Working Group White Paper, v. 5, at
http://lunar.gsfc.nasa.gov/library/LunCoordWhitePaper-10-08.pdf.
Mazarico, E., Rowlands, D.D., Neumann, G.A., Smith, D.E., Torrence, M.H., Lemoine, F.G., and
Zuber, M.T., 2012, Orbit determination of the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter: Journal of
Geodesy, v. 86, no. 3, p. 193–207.
Neumann, G.A., 2011, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter reduced data
record and derived products software interface specification, version 2.42, LRO-L-LOLA-4- Dry ga lski
Ha use n
GDR-V1.0, NASA Planetary Data System (PDS), at 270°E 90°E
http://imbrium.mit.edu/DOCUMENT/RDRSIS.PDF
Smith, D.E., Zuber, M.T., Neumann, G.A., Lemoine, F.G., Mazarico, E., Torrence, M.H., McGarry,
J.F., Rowlands, D.D., Head, J.W., III, Duxbury, T.H., Aharonson, O., Lucey, P.G., Robinson,
M.S., Barnouin, O.S., Cavanaugh, J.F., Sun, X., Liiva, P., Mao, D., Smith, J.C., and Bartels, Ashbroo k
A.E., 2010, Initial observations from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA): Geophysical
Research Letters, v. 37, no. L18204, doi:10.1029/2010GL043751. inge
r
röd
Sch
Smith, D.E., Zuber, M.T., Neumann, G.A., Mazarico, E., Head, J.W., III, Torrence, M.H., and the
LOLA Science Team, 2011, Results from the Lunar Orbiter Laser Altimeter (LOLA)—global, Va l l
is
high-resolution topographic mapping of the Moon [abs.]: Lunar Planetary Science Conference
XLII, Woodlands, Tex., Abstract 2350.
Tooley, C.R., Houghton, M.B., Saylor, R.S., Peddie, C., Everett, D.F., Baker, C.L., and Safdie, –80° Schrödinger
K.N., 2010, Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter mission and spacecraft design: Space Sciences Ze e man
Review, v. 150, no. 1, p. 23–62, doi:10.1007/s11214-009-9624-4.
Wessel, P., and Smith, W.H.F., 1998, New, improved version of Generic Mapping Tools released:
Eos, Transactions of the American Geophysical Union, v. 79, no. 47, p. 579.
Williams, J.G., Boggs, D.H., and Folkner, W.M., 2008, DE421 Lunar orbit, physical librations, and
surface coordinates: Jet Propulsion Laboratory Interoffice Memorandum IOM
V
a
335-JW,DB,WF-20080314-001, at l l
i s
ftp://ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/eph/planets/ioms/de421_moon_coord_iom.pdf.

0°E
30

°E

24
look-up table, with each color representing a range of 1 km of elevation. These two files were P
0°E

l a

60

0°

12
lowest point n
then merged and scaled to 1:10,000,000 for the Mercator part, and 1:6,078,683 for the two Polar

E
+ c
k
70° Stereographic parts with a resolution of 300 pixels per inch. The two projections have a common –70°
Anto nia di
J. H e r s c h e l scale at ±56° latitude.

P l a n c k

W. B o n d

MA
RE
60° –60°
FR
33
0° IGO °E
21
0°E 0°E
E RIS 30 P o i n c a r é 15

55° –55°
0° ~ -9,130 Minimum ~ 10,780 Maximum 180°

SCALE 1:6 078 683 (1 mm = 6.078683 km) AT 90° LATITUDE SCALE 1:6 078 683 (1 mm = 6.078683 km) AT -90° LATITUDE
POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION POLAR STEREOGRAPHIC PROJECTION

–9000

–1000

5000
3000
–7000

1000

10000
7000
–5000

–3000

9000
1000 500 0 500 1000 KILOMETERS 1000 500 0 500 1000 KILOMETERS
90° 90° –90° –90°
70° 70° –70° –70°
55° 55° Elevation, in meters –55° –55°
NORTH POLAR REGION SOUTH POLAR REGION
North
180° 210°E 240°E 270°E 300°E 330°E 0° 30°E 60°E 90°E 120°E 150°E 180°
57° 57°
MARE
Birkhoff HUMBOLDTIANUM Co mpto n
MARE FRIGORIS

d'Ale mbe rt
SINUS RORIS
50° 50°

LACUS
SINUS

IRIDUM MORTIS
OC
EA
NU

MARE Ha rkhe bi
LACUS SOMNIORUM
S

L o r e n t z IMBRIUM
MARE
30° 30°
E
E NS
AR E
M OVI
SC
O
S E R E N I TAT IS M

MARE
PR

CRISIUM
OC

MARE
MARE
SINUS VAPORUM
MARGINIS
EL

AESTUUM MARE
LA

MARE
RU

TRANQUILLITATIS
+ highest point Me ndele e v
M

INS UL A RUM

H e r t z s p r u n g MARE
West

0° 0°

East
MARE
SMYTHII
Korolev

FECUNDITATIS
MARE

COGNITUM

MAR E
NECTARIS

MARE
ORIENTALE MARE

MARE
NUBIUM
HUMORUM

–30° –30°

MARE

INGENII

A p o l l o
MARE Le ibnitz

Schicka rd AUSTRALE

–50° –50°

P l a n c k P o i n c a r é

–57° –57°
180° 210°E 240°E 270°E 300°E 330°E 0° 30°E 60°E 90°E 120°E 150°E 180°
(150°W) (120°W) (90°W) (60°W) (30°W) South
Descriptions of nomenclature used on map are listed at SCALE 1:10 000 000 (1 mm = 10 km) AT 0˚ LATITUDE Prepared on behalf of the Planetary Geology and Geophysics Program,
http://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/ Solar System Exploration Division, Office of Space Science, National
MERCATOR PROJECTION
Aeronautics and Space Administration
2000 1000 500 0 500 1000 2000 KILOMETERS Edited by Kate Jacques; digital cartography by Vivian Nguyen
Manuscript approved for publication October 28, 2014
57° 57°
40° 40°
20° 20°
0° 0°

Topographic Map of the Moon

By Any use of trade, product, or firm names in this publication is for descriptive purposes only
and does not imply endorsement by the U.S. Government
Printed on recycled paper

Trent M. Hare,1 Rosalyn K. Hayward,1 Jennifer S. Blue,1 Brent A. Archinal,1 Mark S. Robinson,2 Emerson J. For sale by U.S. Geological Survey, Information Services, Box 25286, Federal Center,
Denver, CO 80225, 1–888–ASK–USGS
Digital files available at http://pubs.usgs.gov/sim/3316/
Speyerer,2 Robert V. Wagner,2 David E. Smith,3 Maria T. Zuber,3 Gregory A. Neumann,4 and Erwan Mazarico4 1
2
U.S. Geological Survey;
Arizona State University;
ISSN 2329-1311 (print)
Suggested citation: Hare, T.M., Hayward, R.K., Blue, J.S., Archinal, B.A., Robinson, M.S.,
Speyerer, E.J., Wagner, R.V., Smith, D.E., Zuber, M.T., Neumann, G.A., and Mazarico, E.,
3
Massachusetts Institute of Technology; 2015, Image mosaic and topographic map of the moon: U.S. Geological Survey Scientific
2015 4
NASA Goddard Space Flight Center
ISSN 2329-132X (online)
http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3316 Investigations Map 3316, 2 sheets, http://dx.doi.org/10.3133/sim3316.