The Control Networks of the Galilean Satellites and Implications for Global Shape

Abstract

Images from the Galileo mission to Jupiter have been combined with earlier Voyager images to produce improved geodetic control networks for the Galilean satellites. The improved geometric stability and lack of scene-dependent distortions of the Galileo images compensate for their relatively small number. Triaxial solutions are derived for the principal axes of the satellites by assuming an equilibrium constrained by the gravity potential coefficients. The control network is used in the preparation of planimetric maps by relating the images to the latitude/longitude grid.