Mars Geodetic Parameters from MOLA

Parameter
Value#
Uncertainty
 Ref.*
Geodetic Shape:
Mean radius (m)
3389508
3
1
Mean equatorial radius (m)
3396200
160
1
North polar radius (m)
3376189
50
1
South polar radius (m)
3382580
50
1
Triaxial Ellipsoid:
a (m)
3398627
 1
b (m)
3393760
 1
c (m)
3376200
1
1/flattening
169.8
1.0
1
Directions of principal ellipsoid axes:
a
1.0°N, 72.4°E
1
b
0°N, 324.4°E
1
c
89.0°N, 252.4°E
1
Ellipsoid offset of COF from COM:
Dx (m)
-233
1
Dy (m)
-1428
1
Dz (m)
-2986
1
Surface Volatile Inventory:
Volume of north polar cap (millions of cubic km)
1.2 to 1.7
2
Volume of south polar cap (millions of cubic km)
2 to 3
1
Elevation comparisons with Mars landers:
Viking 1 (m)
45
1
Viking 2 (m)
0
1
Pathfinder (m)
94
1
Highs and Lows:
Height of Olympus Mons (m)**
21183
5
3
Height of Ascraeus Mons (m)
18201
5
3
Height of Pavonis Mons (m)
14122
5
3
Height of Arsia Mons (m)
17404
5
3
Height of Elysium (m)
13289
5
3
Height of Alba Patera (m)
6620
5
3
Depth of Hellas (m)***
-7825
5
3
Lowest point in Valles Marineris (m)
-5310
5
3

# Zero elevation is defined as the gravitational equipotential surface whose average value at the equator is equal to the mean equatorial radius as determined by MOLA.

*References

1. Smith, D.E., M.T. Zuber, S.C. Solomon, R.J. Phillips, J.W. Head, J.B. Garvin, W.B. Banerdt, D.O. Muhleman, G.H. Pettengill, G.A. Neumann, F.G. Lemoine, J.B. Abshire, O. Aharonson, C.D. Brown, S.A. Hauck, A.B. Ivanov, P.J. McGovern, H.J. Zwally, T.C. Duxbury, The global topography of Mars and implications for surface evolution, Science, 284 1495-1503, 1999.

2. Zuber, M.T., Smith, D.E., S.C. Solomon, J.B. Abshire, R.S. Afzal, O. Aharonson, K. Fishbaugh, P.G. Ford, , H.V. Frey, J.B. Garvin, J.W. Head, A.B. Ivanov, C.L. Johnson, D.O. Muhleman, G.A. Neumann, G.H. Pettengill, R.J. Phillips, X. Sun, H.J. Zwally, W.B. Banerdt, T.C. Duxbury, Observations of the north polar region of Mars from the Mars Orbiter Laser Altimeter, Science, 282, 2053-2060, 1998.

3. Quarter-degree global topographic map of Mars

** Highest Point on Mars.
*** Lowest Point on Mars.

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Direct inquiries to: dsmith@tharsis.gsfc.nasa.gov