Regional Planetary Image Facility
Encyclopedia
NASA Regional Planetary Image Facilities (RPIFs) are planetary image and data libraries located throughout the United States
and overseas and are funded by both NASA
and the host institutions. A network of these facilities was established in 1977 to “maintain photographic and digital data as well as mission documentation. Each facility’s general holding contains images and maps of planets
and their satellites taken by solar system exploration
spacecraft
. These planetary image facilities are open to the public. The facilities are primarily reference centers for browsing, studying, and selecting lunar
and planetary photographic
and cartographic
materials. Experienced staff can assist scientists, educators, students, media, and the public in ordering materials for their own use.” Since it was formally established, the network of RPIFs has expanded to nine U.S. facilities and eight in other countries. The first RPIF to be established outside of the U.S. was in England
in 1980 at the University College London
(UCL), and since then RPIFs have been set up in Canada
, Finland
, France
, Germany
, Israel
, Italy
, and Japan
.
. Among the offerings are:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
and overseas and are funded by both NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and the host institutions. A network of these facilities was established in 1977 to “maintain photographic and digital data as well as mission documentation. Each facility’s general holding contains images and maps of planets
Planet
A planet is a celestial body orbiting a star or stellar remnant that is massive enough to be rounded by its own gravity, is not massive enough to cause thermonuclear fusion, and has cleared its neighbouring region of planetesimals.The term planet is ancient, with ties to history, science,...
and their satellites taken by solar system exploration
Timeline of solar system exploration
This is a timeline of Solar System exploration ordered by date of spacecraft launch. It includes:*All spacecraft that have left Earth orbit for the purposes of Solar System exploration , including lunar probes....
spacecraft
Spacecraft
A spacecraft or spaceship is a craft or machine designed for spaceflight. Spacecraft are used for a variety of purposes, including communications, earth observation, meteorology, navigation, planetary exploration and transportation of humans and cargo....
. These planetary image facilities are open to the public. The facilities are primarily reference centers for browsing, studying, and selecting lunar
Moon
The Moon is Earth's only known natural satellite,There are a number of near-Earth asteroids including 3753 Cruithne that are co-orbital with Earth: their orbits bring them close to Earth for periods of time but then alter in the long term . These are quasi-satellites and not true moons. For more...
and planetary photographic
Photography
Photography is the art, science and practice of creating durable images by recording light or other electromagnetic radiation, either electronically by means of an image sensor or chemically by means of a light-sensitive material such as photographic film...
and cartographic
Cartography
Cartography is the study and practice of making maps. Combining science, aesthetics, and technique, cartography builds on the premise that reality can be modeled in ways that communicate spatial information effectively.The fundamental problems of traditional cartography are to:*Set the map's...
materials. Experienced staff can assist scientists, educators, students, media, and the public in ordering materials for their own use.” Since it was formally established, the network of RPIFs has expanded to nine U.S. facilities and eight in other countries. The first RPIF to be established outside of the U.S. was in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
in 1980 at the University College London
University College London
University College London is a public research university located in London, United Kingdom and the oldest and largest constituent college of the federal University of London...
(UCL), and since then RPIFs have been set up in Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, Finland
Finland
Finland , officially the Republic of Finland, is a Nordic country situated in the Fennoscandian region of Northern Europe. It is bordered by Sweden in the west, Norway in the north and Russia in the east, while Estonia lies to its south across the Gulf of Finland.Around 5.4 million people reside...
, France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
, and Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
Resources and Services Offered
The RPIFs store and maintain a variety of planetary data and imagery, making them unique resources covering decades of planetary sciencePlanetary science
Planetary science is the scientific study of planets , moons, and planetary systems, in particular those of the Solar System and the processes that form them. It studies objects ranging in size from micrometeoroids to gas giants, aiming to determine their composition, dynamics, formation,...
. Among the offerings are:
- Digital and non-digital data and supporting documents from U.S. and foreign lunar and planetary missions flown since 1959
- The Earth Impact Database at the Canadian RPIF at the University of New BrunswickUniversity of New BrunswickThe University of New Brunswick is a Canadian university located in the province of New Brunswick. UNB is the oldest English language university in Canada and among the first public universities in North America. The university has two main campuses: the original campus founded in 1785 in...
- More than 10,000 planetary images from Earth-based telescopesTelescopeA telescope is an instrument that aids in the observation of remote objects by collecting electromagnetic radiation . The first known practical telescopes were invented in the Netherlands at the beginning of the 1600s , using glass lenses...
at the University of Arizona Lunar and Planetary Laboratory RPIF
- A collection of near-infrared reflectance spectraSpectraSpectra are conditions or values that vary over a continuum.Spectra may also refer to:* Kia Spectra, a car developed by Kia Motors from 2000-present* Optare Spectra, a bus body built by Optare...
of small areas of the lunar surface at the University of Hawaii RPIF
- An inventory of 50,000 United States Geological SurveyUnited States Geological SurveyThe United States Geological Survey is a scientific agency of the United States government. The scientists of the USGS study the landscape of the United States, its natural resources, and the natural hazards that threaten it. The organization has four major science disciplines, concerning biology,...
(USGS) lunar and planetary maps at the USGS Astrogeology RPIF
- The Cornell University Meteorite Collection inventory at the Cornell University RPIF
- An extensive collection of online maps, publications, and outreach tools maintained by the Lunar and Planetary Institute RPIF
- The field analog terrainsTerrainTerrain, or land relief, is the vertical and horizontal dimension of land surface. When relief is described underwater, the term bathymetry is used...
collection at the Arizona State University RPIF
- Field notebooks, drafts of seminal planetary science papers, and mission planning documents