Determining True North on Mars by Using a Sundial on InSight

Determining True North on Mars by Using a Sundial on InSight

In this work, we demonstrate the possibility to determine the true North direction on Mars by using a gnomon on the InSight mission. The Sun local coordinates are computed using the analytical solution VSOP87 for the planetary ephemeris. The Sun position in the sky induce specific gnomon shadow orie...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Space science reviews Vol. 215; no. 1; pp. 1 - 22
Main Authors: Savoie, D., Richard, A., Goutaudier, M., Onufer, N. P., Wallace, M. C., Mimoun, D., Hurst, K., Verdier, N., Lognonné, P., Maki, J. N., Banerdt, B.
Format: Journal Article
Language:English
Published: Dordrecht Springer Netherlands 01-02-2019
Springer Nature B.V
Springer Verlag
Subjects:
Aerospace Technology and Astronautics
Astrophysics
Astrophysics and Astroparticles
Mars
Physics
Physics and Astronomy
Planetology
Shadows
Space Exploration and Astronautics
Space Sciences (including Extraterrestrial Physics
Sun
Target recognition
The InSight Mission to Mars II
Verticality
Mars
North
Sundial
InSight
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Summary:In this work, we demonstrate the possibility to determine the true North direction on Mars by using a gnomon on the InSight mission. The Sun local coordinates are computed using the analytical solution VSOP87 for the planetary ephemeris. The Sun position in the sky induce specific gnomon shadow orientation and length that can be read on a target. By comparing the images of the shadow with the expected position of the Sun, we can determine the true North direction with an accuracy up to 1 ∘ , well within the seismic requirement of 5 ∘ , even if the lander position or the gnomon verticality are not accurate. To achieve this result, we determine the best periods of observation during the SEIS deployment phase in December 2018. A total period of 5 hours has been identified on mornings and evenings on Mars, during which the impact of errors on position and verticality on the true North direction are minimised.
ISSN:0038-6308
1572-9672
DOI:10.1007/s11214-018-0568-4