The 1962 U.S. Geological Survey (U.S.G.S.) map of Mars, better known as the 1962 Mars Map, is a fascinating piece of planetary cartographic history. Here’s an overview:
Background
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- In the early 1960s, before spacecraft flybys, planetary maps of Mars were based entirely on telescopic observations.
- The U.S. Geological Survey’s Astrogeology Research Program (founded in 1961 by Eugene Shoemaker) began producing planetary maps to prepare for future missions.
- The 1962 Mars map was one of the first official U.S.G.S. attempts to create a systematic, scientific base map of the planet.
Key Features of the 1962 Mars Map
- Title: Preliminary Map of Mars (sometimes referred to as the “Mars Quadrangle Series”).
- Projection: Used a cylindrical projection to cover the entire globe of Mars.
- Sources: Drawn from telescopic observations, especially those made by astronomer Earl C. Slipher at Lowell Observatory, and from international Mars mapping efforts.
- Details:
- Major albedo features (dark/light regions) were shown, such as Syrtis Major, Hellas, and Mare Cimmerium.
- The cartography still reflected the “canals” controversy, though by this point the idea of artificial canals was fading.
- Place names followed the International Astronomical Union (IAU) conventions established in the early 20th century.
Significance of the 1962 Mars Map
- It was a pre-space age planetary map: created two years before Mariner 4 (1965) sent back the first close-up images of Mars.
- It laid the groundwork for the Mars Aeronautical Chart series that the U.S.G.S. and NASA developed in the 1960s to support mission planning.
- Historically, it represents the transition from telescopic cartography to spacecraft-based mapping.
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Collectability
- Original copies of the 1962 map are rare and valuable among collectors of planetary cartography and space history.
- It is sometimes cited in USGS Miscellaneous Geologic Investigations series.