ABSTRACT
Except for some specific purposes, the geometric heights on telluric planets (Mercury, Venus, and Mars) and moons have almost exclusively been defined with respect to the geometric reference surface (sphere or ellipsoid) that mathematically approximates their size and shape, or with respect to the center of the planet/moon. On Earth, this type of heights represents the geodetic heights that are taken with respect to the reference ellipsoid and are measured by the Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs). For most of the practical and scientific applications, however, the physical (orthometric) heights are used. These heights are defined with respect to the geoid, which is an equipotential surface that best approximates the mean sea surface. The realization of a similar concept of physical heights for telluric planets and moons is discussed in this study, with the emphasis on their practical use. We inspect this aspect on selected study areas and discuss possible benefits of using physical heights, mainly in the context of gravity-driven mass transport as well as the choice of potential landing sites of future satellite missions.
