The Planetary Laboratory for Image Analysis (PLIA)

The observation, characterization, and understanding of planetary atmospheres are key components of Solar System exploration. Their study requires, among other observations, the use of image data acquired from spacecrafts. The basic tasks that are generally used to work with planetary image data are: image navigation, projection, image processing, limb-darkening correction, composition of multiwavelength images and mosaicing. We illustrate the mathematical techniques required for the study of planetary images obtained from spacecrafts using as an example our own software package (PLIA). We present examples of analysis of Galileo SSI, Cassini ISS and Venus Express VIRTIS observations covering a large range of image peculiarities. The paper is organized as a guide for anyone willing to replicate one or several of the capabilities incorporated in the PLIA software. An open source version of PLIA for astronomical image processing is available.

[1]  L. M. Bugayevskiy,et al.  Map Projections: A Reference Manual , 1995 .

[2]  Gerhard Neukum,et al.  The Galileo Solid-State Imaging experiment , 1992 .

[3]  T. Encrenaz,et al.  South-polar features on Venus similar to those near the north pole , 2007, Nature.

[4]  J. Anderson,et al.  Modernization of the Integrated Software for Imagers and Spectrometers , 2004 .

[5]  Robert Lupton,et al.  A Modified Magnitude System that Produces Well-Behaved Magnitudes, Colors, and Errors Even for Low Signal-to-Noise Ratio Measurements , 1999, astro-ph/9903081.

[6]  David L. Crawford,et al.  Instrumentation in Astronomy VI , 1986 .

[7]  W. Menzel,et al.  Cloud Tracking with Satellite Imagery: From the Pioneering Work of Ted Fujita to the Present , 2001 .

[8]  R. Hueso,et al.  The three-dimensional structure of Saturn's equatorial jet at cloud level , 2007 .

[9]  P. Louarn,et al.  Radio and Plasma Wave Observations at Saturn from Cassini's Approach and First Orbit , 2005, Science.

[11]  P. Gierasch,et al.  An HST Study of Jovian Chromophores , 2001 .

[12]  A. Sánchez-Lavega,et al.  Cloud brightness distribution and turbulence in Venus using Galileo violet images , 2007 .

[13]  A. Vasavada,et al.  Interaction between eddies and mean flow in Jupiter's atmosphere: Analysis of Cassini imaging data , 2006 .

[14]  Susan K. McMahon,et al.  Overview of the Planetary Data System , 1996 .

[15]  J. Burns,et al.  Cassini Imaging of Jupiter's Atmosphere, Satellites, and Rings , 2003, Science.

[16]  R. West,et al.  Determining a tilt in Titan's north-south albedo asymmetry from Cassini images , 2009 .

[17]  Angioletta Coradini,et al.  Scientific goals for the observation of Venus by VIRTIS on ESA/Venus Express mission , 2007 .

[18]  D. S. Choi,et al.  Velocity and vorticity measurements of Jupiter's Great Red Spot using automated cloud feature tracking , 2005, 1301.6119.

[19]  F. Murtagh,et al.  Multivariate Data Analysis , 1986 .

[20]  M. W. Evans,et al.  Imaging of Titan from the Cassini spacecraft , 2005, Nature.

[21]  C. H. Acton,et al.  Ancillary data services of NASA's Navigation and Ancillary Information Facility , 1996 .

[22]  M. Minnaert.  The reciprocity principle in lunar photometry , 1941 .

[23]  J. F. Rojas,et al.  A strong vortex in Saturn's South Pole , 2006 .

[24]  A. Sánchez-Lavega,et al.  A Study of the Stability of Jovian Zonal Winds from HST Images: 1995–2000 , 2001 .

[25]  D. T. Lee,et al.  Two algorithms for constructing a Delaunay triangulation , 1980, International Journal of Computer & Information Sciences.

[26]  Andrew P. Ingersoll,et al.  Interpretation of NIMS and SSI Images on the Jovian Cloud Structure , 2001 .

[27]  R. L. Duncombe,et al.  Report of the IAU Working Group on Cartographic Coordinates and Rotational Elements of the Planets and Satellites , 1980 .

[28]  John D. Austin,et al.  Adaptive histogram equalization and its variations , 1987 .

[29]  R. Hueso,et al.  A long-lived cyclone in Saturn’s atmosphere: Observations and models , 2009 .

[30]  E. Karkoschka.  Spectrophotometry of the Jovian Planets and Titan at 300- to 1000-nm Wavelength: The Methane Spectrum , 1994 .

[31]  Carl D. Murray,et al.  Cassini ISS astrometric observations of the inner jovian satellites, Amalthea and Thebe , 2006 .

[32]  P. Thomas.  Sizes, shapes, and derived properties of the saturnian satellites after the Cassini nominal mission , 2010 .

[33]  Giuseppe Piccioni,et al.  Morphology and dynamics of Venus oxygen airglow from Venus Express/Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer observations , 2008 .

[34]  M. Roos-Serote,et al.  An automated method for tracking clouds in planetary atmospheres , 2008 .

[35]  D. Tholen,et al.  Report of the IAU/IAG Working Group on cartographic coordinates and rotational elements: 2006 , 2007 .

[36]  Agustín Sánchez-Lavega,et al.  How Long Is the Day on Saturn? , 2005, Science.

[37]  David W. Fanning,et al.  Idl Programming Techniques , 2000 .

[38]  Giuseppe Piccioni,et al.  Variable winds on Venus mapped in three dimensions , 2008 .

[39]  U. Dyudina,et al.  The Retrieval of Cloud Structure Maps in the Equatorial Region of Jupiter Using a Principal Component Analysis of Galileo/NIMS Data , 2002 .

[40]  R. Hueso,et al.  Jupiter's polar clouds and waves from Cassini and HST images: 1993–2006 , 2008 .

[41]  R. Hueso,et al.  The jovian anticyclone BA: II. Circulation and interaction with the zonal jets , 2009 .

[42]  P. Fellgett.  Instrumentation in Astronomy , 1973 .

[43]  Verner E. Suomi,et al.  McIDAS III - A modern interactive data access and analysis system. [Man computer Interactive Data Access System] , 1983 .

[44]  J. Burns,et al.  Cassini Imaging Science: Instrument Characteristics And Anticipated Scientific Investigations At Saturn , 2004 .

[45]  Javier Peralta,et al.  A reanalysis of Venus winds at two cloud levels from Galileo SSI images , 2007 .

[46]  Doug Tody,et al.  The Iraf Data Reduction And Analysis System , 1986, Astronomical Telescopes and Instrumentation.

[47]  R. J. Hanisch,et al.  Astronomical Data Analysis Software and Systems X , 2014 .

[48]  S. Erard,et al.  Multivariate analysis of Visible and Infrared Thermal Imaging Spectrometer (VIRTIS) Venus Express nightside and limb observations , 2009 .