Equal Area Map Projection for Irregularly Shaped Objects

Approximately half of the planetary bodies in our solar system imaged by spacecraft have irregular shapes. Since maps are used to record, interpret and display these irregularly shaped bodies, a special map projection, which can display them faithfully, is desirable. Unfortunately, no mathematical approach that permits true conformal or equal-area projections has been developed. In this paper, a novel approach to construct a special equal area map projection for irregularly shaped objects is suggested. Using this innovative approach, equal area map projections for two Martian satellites—Phobos and Deimos are—developed.