New Maps Detail Solar System Objects

[mickw]

Galactic hitchhikers visiting our solar system, if they exist, would probably love to get their hands on a new guide that puts GPS to shame.

A planetary scientist has made the most detailed maps of our local planets, moons and asteroids yet by combining hundreds of spacecraft images to chart all the nooks and crannies of numerous surfaces, including the asteroids Phobos, Itokawa and Eros. Upcoming targets for mapping include the planet Mercury and eight of Saturn's moons, such as frozen Enceladus with its icy geysers, as well as Earth's moon.

More:   http://www.space.com/scienceastronomy/080902-st-planet-map.html