Automatic stitching method for Chang’E-2 CCD images of the Moon

The lunar map is a product of primary scientific objectives of lunar exploration. Aiming at the characteristics of the Chang’E-2 CCD data, an automatic stitching method used for 2C level CCD data from Chang’E-2 lunar mission is proposed. Combining with the image registration technique and the characteristics of Chang’E CCD images, the fast method proposed not only can overcome the contradiction of the high spatial resolution of the CCD images and the low positioning accuracy of the location coordinates, but also can speed up the processing and minimize the utilization of human resources to produce lunar mosaic map. Meanwhile, a new lunar map from 70ºN to 70ºS with spatial resolution of less than 10 m has been completed by the proposed method. Its average relative location accuracy of the adjacent orbits CCD image data is less than 3 pixels.