title: A 5-micron-bright spot on Titan: evidence for surface diversity.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA. jbarnes@lpl.arizona.edu
authors.forename: Jason W
authors.initials: JW
authors.lastname: Barnes
authors.forename: Robert H
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Elizabeth P
authors.initials: EP
authors.lastname: Turtle
authors.forename: Alfred S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: McEwen
authors.forename: Ralph D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Lorenz
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Janssen
authors.forename: Emily L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Schaller
authors.forename: Michael E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Brown
authors.forename: Bonnie J
authors.initials: BJ
authors.lastname: Buratti
authors.forename: Christophe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sotin
authors.forename: Caitlin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Griffith
authors.forename: Roger
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Clark
authors.forename: Jason
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Perry
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fussner
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barbara
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: West
authors.forename: Charles
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Elachi
authors.forename: Antonin H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Bouchez
authors.forename: Henry G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Roe
authors.forename: Kevin H
authors.initials: KH
authors.lastname: Baines
authors.forename: Giancarlo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bellucci
authors.forename: Jean-Pierre
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Bibring
authors.forename: Fabrizio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Capaccioni
authors.forename: Priscilla
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cerroni
authors.forename: Michel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Combes
authors.forename: Angioletta
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coradini
authors.forename: Dale P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Cruikshank
authors.forename: Pierre
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Drossart
authors.forename: Vittorio
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Formisano
authors.forename: Ralf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Jaumann
authors.forename: Yves
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Langevin
authors.forename: Dennis L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Matson
authors.forename: Thomas B
authors.initials: TB
authors.lastname: McCord
authors.forename: Phillip D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Nicholson
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Sicardy
mesh_terms: D001272:Atmosphere; D004367:Dry Ice; D005118:Extraterrestrial Environment; D007053:Ice; D008697:Methane; D018539:Saturn; D018531:Spacecraft; D013057:Spectrum Analysis; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water
chemical_list: D004367:Dry Ice; D007053:Ice; D014867:Water; D008697:Methane