How has satellite imagery been used to map the Moon and other planets?

Satellite imagery and remote sensing have revolutionized cartography, enabling the creation of highly detailed maps of the Moon and other bodies in our solar system.1

Spacecraft utilize advanced instrumentation to gather data that is processed into visual maps:

• Multispectral Imaging: By capturing data across discrete wavelength ranges, probes can identify geochemical and physical properties of a surface. For example, the Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) used laser altimetry to produce topographic maps with a vertical accuracy of one meter.23
• Surface Characterization: Instruments like the Diviner Lunar Radiometer chart how materials heat and cool, while other sensors detect hydrogen to locate potential water resources.3
• Electronic Scanning: Spacecraft scan surface details electronically and beam signals back to Earth, where they are processed and enhanced to reveal information beyond the capabilities of conventional photography.4
• Photogrammetry: Modern cartographic procedures translate these photographic data into maps, governed by the principles of photogrammetry to achieve high levels of precision.1

These techniques allow scientists to select landing sites, monitor hazards, and study the geological evolution of extraterrestrial environments.3