Hayabusa AMICA Images: Asteroid Itokawa Geometry Backplanes

The Hayabusa mission's Asteroid Multi-band Imaging Camera (AMICA) captured 1662 images of asteroid 25143 Itokawa between May 2003 and November 2005. This data set provides derived geometric information for each pixel in 1339 of those images. The National Aeronautics and Space Administration produced this collection.

Use Cases

• Calibrate image pixel coordinates based on geometric backplane data
• Analyze asteroid surface morphology using derived geometric information
• Validate remote sensing algorithms for small body encounters
• Study temporal changes on asteroid Itokawa across the mission period

Strengths

• 1662 original images provide a substantial observational record
• 1339 images include derived geometric information per pixel
• Data spans a 2.5-year period from launch through encounter

Limitations

• Description metadata is limited; actual data quality requires manual inspection after download
• Column-level documentation is absent; field semantics must be inferred after download
• Row count is unknown, which may limit suitability assessment

Provenance

Source

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

Collection Method

Images obtained by the Asteroid Multi-band Imaging Camera (AMICA) on the Hayabusa mission.

Time Range

May 11, 2003 to November 19, 2005

Freshness

Last updated 2026-03-13 12:48:10.895188; freshness should be verified

Geography

Asteroid 25143 Itokawa