The cartographic lunar reference frame

Brent A. Archinal; Al Conrad; Tom Duxbury; Daniel Hestroffer; Laurent Jorda; Randolph L. Kirk; Sergei Klioner; Jean-Luc Margot; Jürgen Oberst; Flora Paganelli; Jinsong Ping; Ken Seidelmann; David Tholen; Iwan Williams

USGS · 70279359

The cartographic lunar reference frame

Brent A. Archinal·Al Conrad·Tom Duxbury·Daniel Hestroffer·Laurent Jorda·Randolph L. Kirk·Sergei Klioner·Jean-Luc Margot·Jürgen Oberst·Flora Paganelli·Jinsong Ping·Ken Seidelmann·David Tholen·Iwan Williams

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Abstract

We describe how lunar cartographic coordinates are currently determined internationally, based on recommendations of the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements. Currently, a mean Earth/polar axis (ME) system-based frame and ephemeris (JPL DE 421 ME) is used for that purpose. Recently, there has been some discussion that a lunar principal axis system-based frame should be used instead. We describe how that would be a major change to how lunar data are currently acquired, and how data and mapping products are created and archived, searched for, accessed, and used, and our concerns that such a change would cause significant problems. Existing lunar data, data products, papers, and databases could need to be converted, or substantial confusion could result due to the ∼1 km difference between systems, perhaps resulting in navigation or safety issues. The publication and dissemination of any proposal(s) to change systems is encouraged, as are comments on a comparatively much smaller update to the current ME frame proposed here.

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Brent A. Archinal, Al Conrad, Tom Duxbury, Daniel Hestroffer, Laurent Jorda, Randolph L. Kirk, Sergei Klioner, Jean-Luc Margot, Jürgen Oberst, Flora Paganelli, Jinsong Ping, Ken Seidelmann, David Tholen, Iwan Williams. 2023. The cartographic lunar reference frame. https://pubs.usgs.gov/publication/70279359

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