List of geological features on Titan
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This is a list of named geological features on Saturn's moon Titan. Official names for these features have only been announced very recently, as Titan's surface was virtually unknown before the arrival of the Cassini–Huygens probe.[1] Some features were known by informal nicknames beforehand; these names are noted where appropriate.
Contents
- 1 Albedo features
- 2 Arcūs
- 3 Colles
- 4 Craters
- 5 Faculae
- 6 Fluctūs
- 7 Flumina
- 8 Fretum
- 9 Insulae
- 10 Labyrinthi
- 11 Lacunae
- 12 Lacūs
- 13 Large ringed features
- 14 Maculae
- 15 Maria
- 16 Montes
- 17 Planitiae
- 18 Regiones
- 19 Sinus
- 20 Virgae
- 21 Informal names for unnamed features
- 22 See also
- 23 Notes
- 24 References
- 25 External links
Albedo features[edit]
Albedo features on Titan are named after sacred or enchanted places in world mythologies and literature.
Bright albedo features[edit]
| Albedo feature | Coordinates | Named after |
|---|---|---|
| Adiri | 10°S 210°W / 10°S 210°W | Adiri, Melanesian paradise |
| Dilmun | 15°N 175°W / 15°N 175°W | Dilmun, Sumerian heaven |
| Quivira | 0°N 15°W / 0°N 15°W | Quivira, legendary city in southwestern America |
| Tsegihi | 40°S 10°W / 40°S 10°W | Tsegihi, Navajo sacred place |
| Xanadu | 15°S 100°W / 15°S 100°W | Xanadu, an imaginary palace in Coleridge's Kubla Khan |
Dark albedo features[edit]
| Albedo feature | Coordinates | Named after | Informal name |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aaru | 10°N 340°W / 10°N 340°W | Aaru, Egyptian paradise | |
| Aztlan | 10°S 20°W / 10°S 20°W | Aztlán, mythical Aztec homeland | Southern part of 'Lying H' |
| Belet | 5°S 255°W / 5°S 255°W | Belet, Malay paradise | |
| Ching-tu | 30°S 205°W / 30°S 205°W | Ching-tu, Chinese Buddhist paradise | |
| Fensal | 5°N 30°W / 5°N 30°W | Fensalir, Norse heavenly mansion | Northern part of 'Lying H' |
| Mezzoramia | 70°S 0°W / 70°S -0°E | Mezzoramia, African oasis of happiness from Italian legend | |
| Senkyo | 5°S 320°W / 5°S 320°W | Senkyo, Japanese paradise | |
| Shangri-La | 10°S 165°W / 10°S 165°W | Shangri-La, Tibetan paradise |
Arcūs[edit]
Titanean arcūs (arc-shaped features) are named after deities of happiness.
| Albedo feature | Coordinates | Named after |
|---|---|---|
| Hotei Arcus | 28°S 79°W / 28°S 79°W | Hotei, Japanese god |
Colles[edit]
Colles are small hills or knobs which are named after characters in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.[2]
| Collis | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Named after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Arwen Colles[2] | Arwen, character from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy | ||
| Bilbo Colles[2] | Bilbo Baggins, titular character of Tolkien's The Hobbit | ||
| Faramir Colles[2] | Faramir, character from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy | ||
| Handir Colles[2] | Handir, character from Tolkien's The Silmarillion | ||
| Nimloth Colles[2] | Nimloth, name of a character and a tree from Tolkien's Middle-earth |
Craters[edit]
Craters on Titan are named after deities of wisdom.
| Crater | Coordinates | Diameter (km) | Named after | Informal name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Afekan | 25°48′N 200°18′W / 25.8°N 200.3°W | 115.0 | Afekan, New Guinean creator goddess | |
| Ksa | 14°00′N 65°24′W / 14.0°N 65.4°W | 29.0 | Ksa, Lakota and Oglala | god |
| Menrva | 20°06′N 87°12′W / 20.1°N 87.2°W | 392.0 | Menrva, Etruscan goddess | 'Circus Maximus' |
| Selk | 7°00′N 199°00′W / 7.0°N 199.0°W | 80.0 | Selk, Egyptian goddess | |
| Sinlap | 11°18′N 16°00′W / 11.3°N 16.0°W | 80.0 | Sinlap, Kachin spirit |
Faculae[edit]
Faculae (bright spots) are named after islands on Earth that are not politically independent. Groups of faculae are named after archipelagos on Earth.
Fluctūs[edit]
The term "fluctus" refers to flow terrain. Fluctūs on Titan are named after mythological figures associated with beauty.
| Fluctus | Coordinates | Named after |
|---|---|---|
| Ara Fluctus | 39°48′N 118°24′W / 39.8°N 118.4°W | Ara the Beautiful, Armenian legendary figure |
| Leilah Fluctus | 50°30′N 77°48′W / 50.5°N 77.8°W | Layla, Persian goddess |
| Rohe Fluctus | 47°18′N 37°45′W / 47.3°N 37.75°W | Rohe, Māori goddess |
| Winia Fluctus | 49°00′N 46°00′W / 49.0°N 46.0°W | Winia, Indonesian first woman |
Flumina[edit]
A flumen is a feature that looks like a channel carved by liquid. They are named after mythical or imaginary rivers
| Flumina | Coordinates | Named after |
|---|---|---|
| Celadon Flumina | 73°42′S 28°48′W / 73.7°S 28.8°W | Celadon, river in Homer's Illiad. |
| Elivagar Flumina | 19°18′N 78°30′W / 19.3°N 78.5°W | The Élivágar, a group of ice rivers in Norse mythology |
| Vid Flumina | 72°54′N 242°30′W / 72.9°N 242.5°W | One of the rivers in Élivágar. |
Fretum[edit]
A fretum is a strait of liquid connecting two larger areas of liquids. They are named after characters from the Foundation series of science fiction novels by Isaac Asimov.
| Fretum | Coordinates | Named after |
|---|---|---|
| Bayta Fretum | 73°00′N 311°12′W / 73°N 311.2°W | Bayta Darell, fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, wife of the Trader Toran Darell and grandmother of famous author Arcadia Darell. |
| Hardin Fretum | 57°18′N 317°48′W / 57.3°N 317.8°W | Salvor Hardin, fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, first Mayor of the planet Terminus. |
| Seldon Fretum | 66°00′N 316°36′W / 66°N 316.6°W | Hari Seldon, the fictional, intellectual hero of Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, First Minister of the Galactic Empire. |
| Trevize Fretum | 74°24′N 269°54′W / 74.4°N 269.9°W | Golan Trevize, fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, councilman of the planet Terminus. |
Insulae[edit]
Insulae are islands within Titan's 'seas'. They are named after legendary islands.
| Insula | Coordinates | Liquid body | Named after |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bermoothes Insula | 67°06′N 317°06′W / 67.1°N 317.1°W | Kraken Mare | Bermoothes, an enchanted island in Shakespeare's Tempest |
| Bimini Insula | 73°18′N 305°24′W / 73.3°N 305.4°W | Kraken Mare | Bimini, island in Arawak legend said to contain the fountain of youth. |
| Bralgu Insula | 76°12′N 251°30′W / 76.2°N 251.5°W | Ligeia Mare | Baralku, in Yolngu culture, the island of the dead and the place where the Djanggawul, the three creator siblings, originated. |
| Buyan Insula | 77°18′N 245°06′W / 77.3°N 245.1°W | Ligeia Mare | Buyan, a rocky island in Russian folk tales located on the south shore of Baltic Sea |
| Hufaidh Insulae | 67°00′N 320°18′W / 67°N 320.3°W | Kraken Mare | Hufaidh, legendary island in the marshes of southern Iraq |
| Krocylea Insulae | 69°06′N 302°24′W / 69.1°N 302.4°W | Kraken Mare | Crocylea, mythological Greek island in the Ionian Sea, near Ithaca |
| Mayda Insula | 79°06′N 312°12′W / 79.1°N 312.2°W | Kraken Mare | Mayda, legendary island in the northeast Atlantic |
| Penglai Insula | 72°12′N 308°42′W / 72.2°N 308.7°W | Kraken Mare | Penglai, mythological Chinese mountain island where immortals and gods lived. |
| Planctae Insulae | 77°30′N 251°18′W / 77.5°N 251.3°W | Ligeia Mare | Symplegades, the "clashing rocks" in Bosphorus, which only Argo was said to have successfully passed the rocks. |
| Royllo Insula | 38°18′N 297°12′W / 38.3°N 297.2°W | Kraken Mare | Royllo, legendary island in the Atlantic, on verge of unknown, near Antilla and Saint Brandan. |
Labyrinthi[edit]
Labyrinthi (complexes of intersecting valleys or ridges[3]) on Titan are named after planets from the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert.[4][5]
Lacunae[edit]
Lacunae are dark areas with the appearance of dry lake beds, which are named after intermittent lakes on Earth.[10]
Lacūs[edit]
Lacūs[1] (plural form of lacus used in Titan geological nomenclature) are hydrocarbon lakes.
Large ringed features[edit]
Large ring features are named after deities of wisdom in world mythology.
| Ring feature | Coordinates | Named after |
|---|---|---|
| Guabonito | 10°54′S 150°48′W / 10.9°S 150.8°W | Guabonito, Taíno sea goddess |
| Nath | 30°30′S 7°42′W / 30.5°S 7.7°W | Irish goddess of wisdom |
| Paxsi | 5°00′N 341°12′W / 5.0°N 341.2°W | Aymara goddess of the moon and wisdom |
| Veles | 2°00′N 137°18′W / 2.0°N 137.3°W | Veles, Slavic god |
Maculae[edit]
Titanean maculae (dark spots) are named after deities of happiness, peace, and harmony in world mythology.
| Macula | Coordinates | Named after |
|---|---|---|
| Eir Macula | 24°00′S 114°42′W / 24.0°S 114.7°W | Eir, Norse goddess. |
| Elpis Macula | 31°12′N 27°00′W / 31.2°N 27.0°W | Elpis, Greek god. |
| Ganesa Macula | 50°00′N 87°18′W / 50.0°N 87.3°W | Ganesa, Hindu god. |
| Omacatl Macula | 17°36′N 37°12′W / 17.6°N 37.2°W | Omacatl, Aztec god. |
| Polaznik Macula | 41°06′S 280°24′W / 41.1°S 280.4°W | Polaznik, Slavic god |
| Polelya Macula | 50°00′N 56°00′W / 50.0°N 56.0°W | Polelya, Slavic god |
Maria[edit]
Maria (plural of mare) are hydrocarbon seas.
Montes[edit]
Mountains are named after mountains from the fictional Middle-Earth created by J.R.R. Tolkien.
Planitiae[edit]
Planitiae (low plains) on Titan are named after planets from the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert.[4][11]
Regiones[edit]
Regiones (regions distinctly different from their surroundings) are named after deities of peace and happiness.
| Regio | Coordinates | Named after |
|---|---|---|
| Hotei Regio | 26°00′S 78°00′W / 26.0°S 78.0°W | Budai, Chinese/Japanese god |
| Tui Regio | 24°30′S 124°54′W / 24.5°S 124.9°W | Tui, Chinese goddess. |
Sinus[edit]
Sinus (bays) within seas or lakes are named after terrestrial bays, coves, fjords or inlets.
Virgae[edit]
Virgae (streaks of colour) are named after rain gods in world mythologies.
| Virga | Coordinates | Named after |
|---|---|---|
| Bacab Virgae | 19°00′S 151°00′W / 19.0°S 151.0°W | Bacab, Mayan rain god |
| Hobal Virga | 35°00′S 166°00′W / 35.0°S 166.0°W | Hobal, Arabian rain god. |
| Kalseru Virga | 36°00′S 137°00′W / 36.0°S 137.0°W | Kalseru, Australian Aborigine rain god. |
| Perkunas Virgae | 27°00′S 162°00′W / 27.0°S 162.0°W | Perkūnas, Lithuanian supreme god |
| Shiwanni Virgae | 25°00′S 32°00′W / 25.0°S 32.0°W | Shiwanni, Zuni rain god |
| Uanui Virgae | 45°12′N 235°18′W / 45.2°N 235.3°W | Uanui, Māori rain god |
Informal names for unnamed features[edit]
Because the exact nature of many surface features remain mysterious, a number of features have not yet received formal names and are known by nicknames. In most cases, indications of brightness and darkness refer not to visible light, but to the infrared images used to look through Titan's obscuring haze. Cassini has also begun to map portions of Titan using radar.
- 'The Sickle': a large, dark, sickle-shaped region identified by the Hubble Space Telescope.
- 'Dog and Ball', 'Dragon's Head': large, dark, roughly equatorial regions identified by the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, named for their distinctive shapes.
- 'Si-Si the Cat': a region that appears dark in radar images, named after a researcher's daughter who said it looked like a cat.
See also[edit]
Notes[edit]
- ^ The USGS web site gives size as a "diameter", but it is actually the length in the longest dimension.
References[edit]
- ^ a b "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Titan Features". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
- ^ a b c d e f "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Titan Colles". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ^ Greeley, Ronald (2013). Introduction to Planetary Geomorphology. Cambridge University Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-521-86711-5.
- ^ a b Blue, Jennifer (August 4, 2009). "USGS Astrogeology Hot Topics: New Name, Descriptor Term, and Theme Approved for Use on Titan". Astrogeology.usgs.gov. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
- ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Titan Labyrinthi". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Ecaz Labyrinthus". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Kaitain Labyrinthus". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Richese Labyrinthus". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Sikun Labyrinthus". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. January 6, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
- ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Titan Lacunae". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
- ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Titan Planitiae". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Arrakis Planitia". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. April 5, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
- ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Caladan Planitia". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
- ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Chusuk Planitia". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. August 4, 2009. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
- ^ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Poritrin Planitia". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
External links[edit]
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