Non-iterative method of calculating image skew

A parallel, non-iterative, memory efficient method of determining image skew. A document skew angle is determined from a fast scan second order moment data set and a slow scan second order moment data set. A slow scan second order moment data set can be generated by receiving a current scanline of image data, updating columns sums for a set of rotation angles using scanlines within a buffer comprising a band having a predetermined number B of scanlines, and updating the buffer with the current scanline. A fast scan second order moment data set is generated by projecting a plurality of pixels within each scanline of image data received to a first rotation angle wherein the plurality pixels project onto M rows; updating M memory locations, wherein each one of the M memory locations corresponds to one of the M rows and wherein each memory location is updated using pixels projecting onto the corresponding row whereby one of the M memory locations contains a completed row; and adding the square of the completed row sum to a moment accumulator.