Mkgraticule_planet: IAU 2015 graticules for QGIS

Tools and Web Services
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Hi all,

I’ve just released a small open-source CLI utility for generating planetary graticules using IAU 2015 planetary coordinate systems:

GitHub: https://github.com/ryodohemmi/mkgraticule_planet
DOI: https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.18864189

The tool is designed for planetary GIS workflows and exports graticules as GeoPackage, so they can be styled and labeled directly in QGIS.

Main features include:

  • support for IAU 2015 planetary CRS

  • GeoPackage output with CRS metadata recognized by QGIS

  • multiple latitude/longitude label styles (-180..180, E/W, 0..360)

  • optional major/minor grid classification

  • safer handling for projected CRS with limited valid domains

  • optional partial reprojection and duplicate endpoint (dateline) removal

I originally built this because I often needed a simple way to create publication-ready planetary graticules in QGIS, especially for projected views such as polar stereographic maps.

The README currently includes two example outputs:

  • a global Phobos graticule with major/minor classification

  • a Moon south polar stereographic graticule

I already shared it in the OP Slack #planetary-mapping channel and got some very helpful feedback, which led me to add example map images to the README.

Feedback, bug reports, feature suggestions, and use cases are all very welcome.
If it seems useful, I’d also be happy to share a short QGIS workflow example or tutorial.