A 5-micron-bright spot on Titan: evidence for surface diversity.
Observations from the Cassini Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer show an anomalously bright spot on Titan located at 80 degrees W and 20 degrees S. This area is bright in reflected light at all observed wavelengths, but is most noticeable at 5 microns. The spot is associated with a surface albedo feature identified in images taken by the Cassini Imaging Science Subsystem. We discuss various hypotheses about the source of the spot, reaching the conclusion that the spot is probably due to variation in surface composition, perhaps associated with recent geophysical phenomena.
Barnes
Jason W
JW
Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. jbarnes@lpl.arizona.edu
Brown
Robert H
RH
Turtle
Elizabeth P
EP
McEwen
Alfred S
AS
Lorenz
Ralph D
RD
Janssen
Michael
M
Schaller
Emily L
EL
Brown
Michael E
ME
Buratti
Bonnie J
BJ
Sotin
Christophe
C
Griffith
Caitlin
C
Clark
Roger
R
Perry
Jason
J
Fussner
Stephanie
S
Barbara
John
J
West
Richard
R
Elachi
Charles
C
Bouchez
Antonin H
AH
Roe
Henry G
HG
Baines
Kevin H
KH
Bellucci
Giancarlo
G
Bibring
Jean-Pierre
JP
Capaccioni
Fabrizio
F
Cerroni
Priscilla
P
Combes
Michel
M
Coradini
Angioletta
A
Cruikshank
Dale P
DP
Drossart
Pierre
P
Formisano
Vittorio
V
Jaumann
Ralf
R
Langevin
Yves
Y
Matson
Dennis L
DL
McCord
Thomas B
TB
Nicholson
Phillip D
PD
Sicardy
Bruno
B
D001272:Atmosphere; D004367:Dry Ice; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D007053:Ice; D008697:Methane; D018539:Saturn; D018531:Spacecraft; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water
D004367:Dry Ice; D007053:Ice; D014867:Water; D008697:Methane