PDSSP Thesaurus

Controlled vocabularies for PDSSP STAC catalogues. Every concept IRI https://pdssp.github.io/pdssp-ontology/vocab#… resolves to its row on this page.

PDSSP Product Type

What kind of resource this is (the concrete thing being downloaded), e.g. a digital elevation model, an image mosaic, a point cloud.
Used by STAC field product:type. Downloads: Turtle · JSON-LD · desise
Sources: apps.usgs.gov/thesaurus

Concept	Also accepted	Definition	Broader	Matches
Anaglyph `ProductType-Anaglyph`		A red-cyan stereo composite built from two observations of the same site from different look angles, intended for viewing with red-cyan 3D glasses. Not present in the USGS Thesaurus's "product types" facet at all -- a PDSSP addition.	Image	broadMatch EPN:im
Digital elevation model `ProductType-DigitalElevationModel`	DEM, DTM, digital terrain model	A raster of elevation values, typically produced by stereo photogrammetry from two or more overlapping observations (see pdssp:Method-Photogrammetry).		exactMatch USGS:digital elevation models closeMatch EPN:ma
Image `ProductType-Image`		A single raster image (e.g. one EDR/RDR observation), not yet mosaicked, ortho-rectified or elevation-derived.		relatedMatch USGS:image collections closeMatch EPN:im
Image mosaic `ProductType-ImageMosaic`		Two or more images combined into one composite raster covering a larger area.	Image	exactMatch USGS:image mosaics closeMatch EPN:ma
Orthoimage `ProductType-OrthoImage`	orthoimagery	An image that has been geometrically corrected (ortho-rectified) so its scale is uniform, typically by projecting it onto a digital elevation model (see pdssp:ProductType-DigitalElevationModel, pdssp:Method-Photogrammetry). The USGS Thesaurus only carries "orthoimagery" as a synonym -- of "image collections" (product types facet) and separately of "aerial photography" (methods facet) -- not as its own concept; this PDSSP addition gives it one, narrower than plain Image.	Image	relatedMatch USGS:image collections closeMatch EPN:ma
Point cloud `ProductType-PointCloud`		An unstructured set of 3D points (e.g. a LiDAR return set or a dense stereo-matching point cloud), before being gridded into a digital elevation model. Not present in the USGS Thesaurus's "product types" facet at all -- a PDSSP addition.		closeMatch EPN:vo

PDSSP Acquisition/Processing Method

How a product was acquired or produced, e.g. panchromatic imaging, multispectral imaging, stereo photogrammetry.
Used by STAC field pdssp:method. Downloads: Turtle · JSON-LD · desise
Sources: apps.usgs.gov/thesaurus

Concept	Also accepted	Definition	Broader	Matches
Aerial photography `Method-AerialPhotography`	orthoimagery	Imaging from an aircraft flying within an atmosphere. Kept from the USGS Thesaurus; on planetary bodies, e.g. images taken by the Ingenuity Mars helicopter.	Remote sensing	exactMatch USGS:aerial photography
Hyperspectral imaging `Method-HyperspectralImaging`		Imaging spectroscopy: tens to hundreds of narrow, contiguous spectral bands, giving a spectrum for every pixel, e.g. MRO CRISM or Mars Express OMEGA.	Remote sensing	exactMatch USGS:hyperspectral imaging
Infrared imaging `Method-InfraredImaging`		Imaging of reflected or emitted infrared radiation (about 0.7 µm to 1 mm), e.g. near-infrared reflectance imaging; see Thermal imaging for emitted heat.	Remote sensing	exactMatch USGS:infrared imaging
Lidar `Method-Lidar`		Laser ranging: distance measured from the travel time of laser pulses, giving topography or point clouds, e.g. MGS MOLA or LRO LOLA.	Remote sensing	exactMatch USGS:lidar
Microwave imaging `Method-MicrowaveImaging`		Imaging with microwave radiation (about 1 mm to 1 m), either passive (radiometry of emitted microwaves) or active (see Radar imaging).	Remote sensing	exactMatch USGS:microwave imaging
Multispectral imaging `Method-MultispectralImaging`		Imaging in a few discrete spectral bands (typically 2 to about 15), giving one co-registered image per band, e.g. HiRISE colour (BLUE-GREEN, RED, NEAR-INFRARED).	Remote sensing	exactMatch USGS:multispectral imaging
Panchromatic imaging `Method-PanchromaticImaging`		Imaging in a single broad spectral band covering most of the visible range (sometimes extending into the near infrared), giving one grey-level image, e.g. MRO CTX or the HiRISE RED channel.	Remote sensing	exactMatch USGS:panchromatic imaging
Photogrammetry `Method-Photogrammetry`		Deriving 3D geometry (e.g. a digital elevation model) by stereo-matching two or more overlapping images. The USGS Thesaurus only carries "photogrammetry" as a synonym of "remote sensing" itself; this PDSSP addition gives it its own addressable, narrower concept, which planetary DTM production specifically needs in order to be distinguished from plain imaging (see pdssp:ProductType-DigitalElevationModel).	Remote sensing	closeMatch USGS:remote sensing
Radar imaging `Method-RadarImaging`		Active imaging with microwave pulses: the sensor emits pulses and measures the strength and delay of the echoes, e.g. synthetic aperture radar (Magellan at Venus).	Remote sensing	exactMatch USGS:radar imaging
Remote sensing `Method-RemoteSensing`		Acquiring information about a body's surface, atmosphere or environment without being in contact with it, from orbiting, flyby, airborne or landed sensors.		exactMatch USGS:remote sensing
Stereoscopic imaging `Method-StereoscopicImaging`		Acquiring or combining two observations of the same site from different look angles for stereo (3D) viewing or measurement -- e.g. a red-cyan anaglyph. Distinct from pdssp:Method-Photogrammetry: photogrammetry MEASURES 3D geometry (elevation) from a stereo pair, while this concept covers producing a stereo pair/composite for viewing, with no elevation model necessarily derived. Not present in the USGS Thesaurus at all (no "stereo"/"stereoscopic" label anywhere in its RDF) -- a PDSSP addition.	Remote sensing
Thermal imaging `Method-ThermalImaging`		Imaging of the thermal radiation emitted by a surface (thermal infrared, about 3 to 50 µm), used to derive surface temperature and thermal inertia, e.g. Mars Odyssey THEMIS-IR.	Remote sensing	exactMatch USGS:thermal imaging
Visible light imaging `Method-VisibleLightImaging`		Imaging of reflected sunlight in the visible part of the spectrum (about 0.4 to 0.7 µm).	Remote sensing	exactMatch USGS:visible light imaging

PDSSP Processing Level

How far a product has been processed from raw telemetry -- PDSSP's own 4-value scale (Raw/Calibrated/Derived/Ancillary), matching PDS4's/stacplanet's own processing:level enum exactly.
Used by STAC field processing:level. Downloads: Turtle · JSON-LD · desise
Sources: pds.nasa.gov · www.ivoa.net/documents/EPNTAP

Concept	Also accepted	Definition
Ancillary `ProcessingLevel-Ancillary`	ANCDR, Ancillary Data Record	Ancillary Data Record: extra data specifically supporting a data set, such as coordinates or geometry, but also dark currents, flat fields, etc.
Calibrated `ProcessingLevel-Calibrated`	RDR, Reduced Data Record	Reduced Data Record: values in physical units, no resampling.
Derived `ProcessingLevel-Derived`	DDR, Derived Data Record	Derived Data Record: result of data analysis, directly usable by other communities with no further processing (e.g. a digital elevation model). PDS4 gives this SAME label to CODMAC's own "Resampled"/REFDR level (mosaics or composites of several observing sessions) -- PDSSP does not distinguish the two; both are this one concept.
Raw `ProcessingLevel-Raw`	EDR, Experiment Data Record	PDS4's own "Raw" label. Experiment Data Record: decommutated, but still affected by instrumental effects. Note: this is CODMAC/EPN-TAP2's "Edited" level (EPN-TAP2 processing_level 2), not their own "Raw"/telemetry level (processing_level 1) -- PDSSP never handles true unprocessed telemetry at all.

PDSSP Target

The body or object an observation is about (the ultimate feature of interest). The prefLabel is the value written in ssys:targets and in EPN-TAP target_name.
Used by STAC field ssys:targets. Downloads: Turtle · JSON-LD · desise
Sources: github.com/astrothesaurus/UAT/releases/tag/v6.0.0 · naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/toolkit_docs/C/req/naif_ids.html · odestac.staging.stacplanet.pdssp.eu/collections · pds.mcp.nasa.gov/api/search/1/products · ssd.jpl.nasa.gov/api/horizons_lookup.api · www.wikidata.org

Concept	Also accepted	Definition	Broader	Matches
3I/ATLAS `Target-3IAtlas` NAIF 1004083	C/2025 N1, C/2025 N1 (ATLAS), Comet 3I ATLAS	Third interstellar object discovered (July 2025), an active comet, imaged from Mars orbit in October 2025.	class: Comet	exactMatch wd:Q135193382 exactMatch pds:target:comet.3i_atlas broadMatch UAT:52
C/2012 S1 (ISON) `Target-C2012S1` NAIF 1003203	C/2012 S1, Comet ISON, ISON	Sungrazing comet, imaged from Mars orbit in 2013.	class: Comet	exactMatch wd:Q301109 exactMatch pds:target:comet.c2012_s1_ison broadMatch UAT:2197
C/2013 A1 (Siding Spring) `Target-C2013A1` NAIF 1003228	C/2013 A1, Comet Siding Spring, Siding Spring	Oort-cloud comet that passed close to Mars on 19 October 2014.	class: Comet	exactMatch wd:Q4525413 broadMatch UAT:933
Deimos `Target-Deimos` NAIF 402		Outer natural satellite of Mars.	class: Satellite, orbits: Mars	exactMatch wd:Q7548 exactMatch pds:target:satellite.mars.deimos broadMatch UAT:1009
Earth `Target-Earth` NAIF 399		Third planet from the Sun.	class: Planet	exactMatch wd:Q2 exactMatch pds:target:planet.earth exactMatch UAT:439
Jupiter `Target-Jupiter` NAIF 599		Fifth planet from the Sun.	class: Planet	exactMatch wd:Q319 exactMatch pds:target:planet.jupiter exactMatch UAT:873
Mars `Target-Mars` NAIF 499		Fourth planet from the Sun.	class: Planet	exactMatch wd:Q111 exactMatch pds:target:planet.mars exactMatch UAT:1007
Mars Global Surveyor `Target-MarsGlobalSurveyor` NAIF -94	MGS	NASA Mars orbiter (1996-2006), imaged by MRO CTX in November 2006.	class: Spacecraft	exactMatch wd:Q206300 closeMatch pds:instrument_host:spacecraft.mgs broadMatch UAT:1545
Moon `Target-Moon` NAIF 301	Luna	Natural satellite of the Earth.	class: Satellite, orbits: Earth	exactMatch wd:Q405 exactMatch pds:target:satellite.earth.moon exactMatch UAT:1692
Phobos `Target-Phobos` NAIF 401		Inner natural satellite of Mars.	class: Satellite, orbits: Mars	exactMatch wd:Q7547 exactMatch pds:target:satellite.mars.phobos broadMatch UAT:1009

PDSSP Target Class

What kind of body or object an observation is about. Aligned one to one with the PADC EPN target-class vocabulary; the notation is the value written in ssys:target_class and in EPN-TAP target_class.
Used by STAC field ssys:target_class. Downloads: Turtle · JSON-LD · desise
Sources: voparis-ns.obspm.fr/rdf/epn/2.0/target-class/2024-11-04 · github.com/astrothesaurus/UAT/releases/tag/v6.0.0

Concept	Also accepted	Definition	Matches
Asteroid `TargetClass-Asteroid` value `asteroid`		Asteroid.	exactMatch EPN:asteroid exactMatch UAT:72
Calibration `TargetClass-Calibration` value `calibration`		Observations only related to instrument or signal calibration.	exactMatch EPN:calibration closeMatch UAT:2179
Comet `TargetClass-Comet` value `comet`		Comet.	exactMatch EPN:comet exactMatch UAT:280
Dwarf planet `TargetClass-DwarfPlanet` value `dwarf_planet`		Dwarf planet.	exactMatch EPN:dwarf_planet exactMatch UAT:419
Exoplanet `TargetClass-Exoplanet` value `exoplanet`		Extra-solar planet.	exactMatch EPN:exoplanet exactMatch UAT:498
Interplanetary medium `TargetClass-InterplanetaryMedium` value `interplanetary_medium`		Interplanetary dust observed in context (not samples).	exactMatch EPN:interplanetary_medium closeMatch UAT:825
Interstellar object `TargetClass-InterstellarObject` value `interstellar-object`		Interstellar object passing through the Solar System.	exactMatch EPN:interstellar-object exactMatch UAT:52
Planet `TargetClass-Planet` value `planet`		Planet.	exactMatch EPN:planet closeMatch UAT:1260
Rogue planet `TargetClass-RoguePlanet` value `rogue-planet`		Rogue planet.	exactMatch EPN:rogue-planet exactMatch UAT:549
Sample `TargetClass-Sample` value `sample`		Lunar or planetary samples, meteorites, terrestrial samples.	exactMatch EPN:sample narrowMatch UAT:1038
Satellite `TargetClass-Satellite` value `satellite`	moon, natural satellite	Natural satellites only.	exactMatch EPN:satellite closeMatch UAT:1089
Sky `TargetClass-Sky` value `sky`		Other celestial bodies, referred to by sky coordinates.	exactMatch EPN:sky
Space junk `TargetClass-Spacejunk` value `spacejunk`		Space junk, spacecraft debris.	exactMatch EPN:spacejunk exactMatch UAT:1542
Spacecraft `TargetClass-Spacecraft` value `spacecraft`		Spacecraft.	exactMatch EPN:spacecraft closeMatch UAT:1549
Star `TargetClass-Star` value `star`		Star.	exactMatch EPN:star closeMatch UAT:1634

PDSSP Platform

The spacecraft (or other platform) hosting the instruments that made an observation.
Used by STAC field platform. Downloads: Turtle · JSON-LD · desise
Sources: github.com/astrothesaurus/UAT/releases/tag/v6.0.0 · naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/MRO/kernels/fk/mro_v17.tf · naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/toolkit_docs/C/req/naif_ids.html · odestac.staging.stacplanet.pdssp.eu/collections · pds.mcp.nasa.gov/api/search/1/products · www.wikidata.org

Concept	Also accepted	Definition	Broader	Matches
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter `Platform-MRO` NAIF -74 COSPAR 2005-029A	MARS RECON ORBITER, MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER (MRO), MRO	NASA Mars orbiter launched in 2005, in Mars orbit since March 2006.		exactMatch wd:Q183160 exactMatch pds:instrument_host:spacecraft.mro broadMatch UAT:1545

PDSSP Instrument

The instrument (OMS observer, SOSA sensor) that made an observation.
Used by STAC field instruments. Downloads: Turtle · JSON-LD · desise
Sources: github.com/astrothesaurus/UAT/releases/tag/v6.0.0 · naif.jpl.nasa.gov/pub/naif/MRO/kernels/fk/mro_v17.tf · odestac.staging.stacplanet.pdssp.eu/collections · pds.mcp.nasa.gov/api/search/1/products · www.wikidata.org

Concept	Also accepted	Definition	Broader	Matches
Context Camera `Instrument-CTX` NAIF -74021	CTX, MRO_CTX	Panchromatic push-broom camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, about 6 m/pixel, giving context for HiRISE and CRISM.	hosted by: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter	exactMatch wd:Q118594233 exactMatch pds:instrument:ctx.mro broadMatch UAT:1548
HiRISE `Instrument-HiRISE` NAIF -74699	HIGH RESOLUTION IMAGING SCIENCE EXPERIMENT (HIRISE), High Resolution Imaging Science Experiment, MRO_HIRISE	Push-broom telescopic camera on Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, about 0.3 m/pixel from orbit, red, blue-green and near-infrared channels.	hosted by: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter	exactMatch wd:Q1036092 exactMatch pds:instrument:hirise.mro broadMatch UAT:1548

PDSSP Mission

The mission (PDS investigation) an observation was made for.
Used by STAC field mission. Downloads: Turtle · JSON-LD · desise
Sources: odestac.staging.stacplanet.pdssp.eu/collections · pds.mcp.nasa.gov/api/search/1/products · www.wikidata.org

Concept	Also accepted	Definition	Broader	Matches
Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter `Mission-MRO`	MARS RECONNAISSANCE ORBITER (MRO), MRO	NASA Mars mission (launch 2005): high-resolution imaging, spectroscopy and sounding of Mars, and telecommunications relay for landers.	platform: Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter	exactMatch pds:investigation:mission.mars_reconnaissance_orbiter closeMatch wd:Q183160

PDSSP Coordinate Reference System

IAU 2015 planetary coordinate reference systems. The notation is the value written in proj:code.
Used by STAC field proj:code. Downloads: Turtle · JSON-LD · desise
Sources: www.opengis.net/def/crs/IAU/2015 · doi.org/10.1007/s10569-017-9805-5

Concept	Definition	Broader	Matches
Mars (2015) - Sphere `Crs-IAU2015-49900` value `IAU_2015:49900`	Mars geographic CRS on a sphere of the IAU 2015 semi-major radius (3396.19 km), longitude positive east.	body: Mars	exactMatch IAU_2015:49900
Mars (2015) / Ocentric `Crs-IAU2015-49902` value `IAU_2015:49902`	Mars planetocentric CRS on the IAU 2015 ellipsoid: planetocentric latitude, longitude positive east.	body: Mars	exactMatch IAU_2015:49902
Mars (2015) / Ographic `Crs-IAU2015-49901` value `IAU_2015:49901`	Mars planetographic CRS on the IAU 2015 ellipsoid: planetographic latitude, longitude positive west.	body: Mars	exactMatch IAU_2015:49901

PDSSP Spectral Band

Spectral channels of the instruments. The notation is the value written in STAC bands[].name; the concept identifies the channel of one instrument.
Used by STAC field bands[].name. Downloads: Turtle · JSON-LD · desise
Sources: www.ivoa.net/rdf/messenger/2020-08-26 · doi.org/10.1555/mars.2013.0001 · odestac.staging.stacplanet.pdssp.eu/collections

Concept	Also accepted	Definition	Broader
CTX broadband `Band-CTX-BroadBand` value `BroadBand` centre µm 0.611 FWHM µm 0.189		CTX single panchromatic channel, effective band centre 611 ± 189 nm.	channel of: Context Camera, wavelength type: Optical
HiRISE BLUE-GREEN `Band-HiRISE-BG` value `BLUE-GREEN` centre µm 0.5 FWHM µm 0.2	BG	HiRISE blue-green channel (CCDs BG12, BG13).	channel of: HiRISE, wavelength type: Optical
HiRISE NEAR-INFRARED `Band-HiRISE-NIR` value `NEAR-INFRARED` centre µm 0.9 FWHM µm 0.3	IR, NIR	HiRISE near-infrared channel (CCDs IR10, IR11).	channel of: HiRISE, wavelength type: Optical, wavelength type: Infrared
HiRISE RED `Band-HiRISE-RED` value `RED` centre µm 0.7 FWHM µm 0.3		HiRISE broad red channel (CCDs RED0 to RED9), the full-swath panchromatic image.	channel of: HiRISE, wavelength type: Optical

PDSSP Wavelength Type

Spectral domain of an observation: the photon terms of the IVOA messenger vocabulary. The notation is the value written in pdssp:wavelength_type.
Used by STAC field pdssp:wavelength_type. Downloads: Turtle · JSON-LD · desise
Sources: www.ivoa.net/rdf/messenger/2020-08-26

Concept	Also accepted	Definition	Broader	Matches
Extreme UV `WavelengthType-EUV` value `EUV` min µm 0.010332 max µm 0.10332		Photon with an energy between 12 eV and 120 eV (wavelength about 10 nm to 103 nm).	Ultraviolet	exactMatch messenger:EUV
Gamma Ray `WavelengthType-GammaRay` value `Gamma-ray` max µm 0.000010332		Photon with an energy above 120 keV (wavelength below about 0.01 nm).	Photon	exactMatch messenger:Gamma-ray
Infrared `WavelengthType-Infrared` min µm 1.0 max µm 100.0	IR	Photon with a wavelength between 1 µm and 100 µm.	Photon	exactMatch messenger:Infrared
Millimeter `WavelengthType-Millimeter` min µm 100.0 max µm 10000.0		Photon with a wavelength between 0.1 mm and 10 mm (30 GHz to 300 GHz).	Photon	exactMatch messenger:Millimeter
Optical `WavelengthType-Optical` min µm 0.3 max µm 1.0	Visible	Photon with a wavelength between 300 nm and 1000 nm.	Photon	exactMatch messenger:Optical
Photon `WavelengthType-Photon`		Carrier particles of the electromagnetic interaction: any wavelength.		exactMatch messenger:Photon
Radio `WavelengthType-Radio` min µm 10000.0		Photon with a wavelength longer than 10 mm (or frequency below 30 GHz).	Photon	exactMatch messenger:Radio
Ultraviolet `WavelengthType-UV` value `UV` min µm 0.1 max µm 0.3		Photon with a wavelength between 100 nm and 300 nm.	Photon	exactMatch messenger:UV
X-Ray `WavelengthType-XRay` value `X-ray` min µm 0.000010332 max µm 0.010332		Photon with an energy between 120 eV and 120 keV (wavelength about 0.01 nm to 10 nm).	Photon	exactMatch messenger:X-ray