Shape models

 page by Wm. Robert Johnston
last updated 17 June 2003

Below is an initial list of available solar system object shape models (mostly) on the Internet. The original shape models were produced by researchers who have processed space probe imagery, Earth-based radar data, or lightcurve data. For some I have included a rendering from my own initial attempt to convert the model to POV-Ray format. Although the drawbacks of my initial efforts are evident, they still give a sense of what these satellites and asteroids look like.

Phobos, satellite of Mars
Shape model modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's web site; map modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's Small World Atlas 2000.

Deimos, satellite of Mars
Shape model modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's web site; map modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's Small World Atlas 2000.

Amalthea, satellite of Jupiter
Shape model modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's web site; map modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's Small World Atlas 2000.

Prometheus, satellite of Saturn
Shape model modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's web site.

Epimetheus, satellite of Saturn
Shape model modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's web site.

Janus, satellite of Saturn
Shape model modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's web site (see Space Art main page for source of Saturn map and ring model).

Hyperion, satellite of Saturn
Shape model modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's web site.

Proteus, satellite of Neptune
Shape model modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's web site.

(4) Vesta, main-belt asteroid
Shape model modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's web site; map modified from that at Views of the Solar System.

(216) Kleopatra, main-belt asteroid
Link to model by Scott Hudson, Washington State University.

(243) Ida, main-belt asteroid
Shape model modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's web site; map modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's Small World Atlas 2000

(253) Mathilde, main-belt asteroid

Shape model available at Philip J. Stooke's web site; map modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's Small World Atlas 2000

(433) Eros, Amor asteroid
Shape model from Zuber et. ali.

(951) Gaspra, main-belt asteroid
Shape model modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's web site; map modified from that at Philip J. Stooke's Small World Atlas 2000

(1620) Geographos, Apollo asteroid
Link to model by Scott Hudson, Washington State University.

(2063) Bacchus, Apollo asteroid
Link to model by Scott Hudson, Washington State University.

(4179) Toutatis, Apollo asteroid
Link to model by Scott Hudson, Washington State University.

(4769) Castalia, Apollo asteroid
Link to model by Scott Hudson, Washington State University.

(6489) Golevka, Amor asteroid
Link to model by Scott Hudson, Washington State University.

1998 KY26, Apollo asteroid
Link to model by Scott Hudson, Washington State University.

1P Halley, short-period comet
Preliminary shape model published by P. J. Stooke and A. Abergel, "Morphology of the nucleus of comet P/Halley," 1991, Astronomy and Astrophysics (248:656-668).

By Wm. Robert Johnston.
Last modified 17 June 2003.
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