List of geological features on Titan

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.

Albedo features

Albedo features on Titan are named after sacred or enchanted places in world mythologies and literature.

Bright albedo features

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

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

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

Craters

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

Faculae (bright spots) are named after islands on Earth that are not politically independent. Groups of faculae are named after archipelagos on Earth.

Facula Coordinates Named after Informal name
Antilia Faculae 11°00′S 187°00′W / 11.0°S 187.0°W Antillia, mythical Atlantic archipelago
Bazaruto Facula 11°36′N 16°06′W / 11.6°N 16.1°W Bazaruto, Mozambique island
Coats Facula 11°06′S 29°12′W / 11.1°S 29.2°W Coats Island, Canada
Crete Facula 9°24′N 150°06′W / 9.4°N 150.1°W Crete, Greek island
Elba Facula 10°48′S 1°12′W / 10.8°S 1.2°W Elba, Italian island
Kerguelen Facula 5°24′S 151°00′W / 5.4°S 151.0°W Kerguelen Islands, French subantarctic island
Mindanao Facula 6°36′S 174°12′W / 6.6°S 174.2°W Mindanao, Philippine island 'Ireland'
Nicobar Faculae 2°00′N 159°00′W / 2.0°N 159.0°W Nicobar Islands, Indian archipelago
Oahu Facula 5°00′N 166°42′W / 5.0°N 166.7°W Oahu, Hawaiian island
Santorini Facula 2°24′N 145°36′W / 2.4°N 145.6°W Santorini, Greek island
Shikoku Facula 10°24′S 164°06′W / 10.4°S 164.1°W Shikoku, Japanese island 'Great Britain'
Sotra Facula 12°30′S 39°48′W / 12.5°S 39.8°W Sotra, Norwegian island 'The Rose'
Texel Facula 11°30′S 182°36′W / 11.5°S 182.6°W Texel, Dutch island 'Manhattan'
Tortola Facula 8°48′N 143°06′W / 8.8°N 143.1°W Tortola, British Virgin Islands 'The Snail'
Vis Facula 7°00′N 138°24′W / 7.0°N 138.4°W Vis, Croatian island

Fluctūs

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

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

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.

Insulae

Insulae are islands within Titan's 'seas'. They are named after legendary islands.

Insula Coordinates Named after
Bermoothes Insula67°06′N 317°06′W / 67.1°N 317.1°W Bermoothes, an enchanted island in Shakespeare's Tempest
Bimini Insula73°18′N 305°24′W / 73.3°N 305.4°W Bimini, island in Arawak legend said to contain the fountain of youth.
Bralgu Insula76°12′N 251°30′W / 76.2°N 251.5°W Baralku, in Yolngu culture, the island of the dead and the place where the Djanggawul, the three creator siblings, originated.
Buyan Insula77°18′N 245°06′W / 77.3°N 245.1°W Buyan,a rocky island in Russian folk tales located on the south shore of Baltic Sea
Hufaidh Insulae67°00′N 320°18′W / 67°N 320.3°W Hufaidh,legendary island in the marshes of southern Iraq
Krocylea Insulae69°06′N 302°24′W / 69.1°N 302.4°W Crocylea,mythological Greek island in the Ionian Sea, near Ithaca
Mayda Insula 79°06′N 312°12′W / 79.1°N 312.2°W Mayda, legendary island in the northeast Atlantic
Penglai Insula72°12′N 308°42′W / 72.2°N 308.7°W Penglai, mythological Chinese mountain island where immortals and gods lived.
Planctae Insulae77°30′N 251°18′W / 77.5°N 251.3°W Planctae, the "wandering rocks" 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 Royllo, legendary island in the Atlantic, on verge of unknown, near Antilla and Saint Brandan.

Labyrinthi

Labyrinthi (complexes of intersecting valleys or ridges[2]) on Titan are named after planets from the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert.[3][4]

Labyrinthus Coordinates Named after
Ecaz Labyrinthus 83°00′S 36°42′W / 83.0°S 36.7°W Ecaz[5]
Kaitain Labyrinthus 52°22′N 348°40′W / 52.37°N 348.66°W Kaitain[6]
Richese Labyrinthus 41°48′N 199°00′W / 41.8°N 199.0°W Richese[7]
Sikun Labyrinthus 77°54′S 28°54′W / 77.9°S 28.9°W Sikun[8]

Lacūs

Lakes of liquid methane on Titan. View from Bolsena Lacus (lower right) to Mackay Lacus (upper left).
Main article: Lakes of Titan

Lacūs[1] (plural form of lacus used in Titan geological nomenclature) are hydrocarbon lakes.

Large ringed features

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

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

Main article: Lakes of Titan

Maria (plural of mare) are hydrocarbon seas.

Montes

Mountains are named after mountains from the fictional Middle-Earth created by J.R.R. Tolkien.

Mons Coordinates Named after
Angmar Montes 10°00′S 221°00′W / 10.0°S 221.0°W Mountains of Angmar
Dolmed Montes 11°36′S 216°48′W / 11.6°S 216.8°W Mount Dolmed
Doom Mons 14°39′S 40°25′W / 14.65°S 40.42°W Mount Doom
Echoriat Montes 7°24′S 213°48′W / 7.4°S 213.8°W Echoriath
Erebor Mons 4°58′S 36°14′W / 4.97°S 36.23°W Erebor, the Lonely Mountain
Gram Montes 9°54′S 207°54′W / 9.9°S 207.9°W Mount Gram
Irensaga Montes 5°41′S 212°43′W / 5.68°S 212.71°W Irensaga
Merlock Montes 8°54′S 211°48′W / 8.9°S 211.8°W Merlock Mountains
Mindolluin Montes 3°18′S 208°58′W / 3.3°S 208.96°W Mindolluin
Misty Montes 56°48′N 62°26′W / 56.8°N 62.44°W Misty Mountains
Mithrim Montes 2°10′S 127°25′W / 2.16°S 127.42°W Mountains of Mithrim
Rerir Montes 4°48′S 212°06′W / 4.8°S 212.1°W Mount Rerir
Taniquetil Montes 3°40′S 213°16′W / 3.67°S 213.26°W Taniquetil

Planitiae

Planitiae (low plains) on Titan are named after planets from the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert.[3][9]

Planitia Coordinates Named after
Arrakis Planitia 78°24′S 117°00′W / 78.4°S 117.0°W Arrakis[10]
Caladan Planitia 31°00′N 226°00′W / 31.0°N 226.0°W Caladan[11]
Chusuk Planitia 5°00′S 23°30′W / 5.0°S 23.5°W Chusuk[12]
Poritrin Planitia 48°00′N 24°00′W / 48.0°N 24.0°W Poritrin[13]

Regiones

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

Sinus (bays) within seas or lakes are named after terrestrial bays, coves, fjords or inlets.

Sinus Coordinates Named after
Arnar Sinus 72°36′N 322°00′W / 72.6°N 322°W Arnar, Fjord in Iceland
Flensborg Sinus 64°54′N 295°18′W / 64.9°N 295.3°W Flensburg, Fjord between Denmark and Germany
Gabes Sinus 67°36′N 289°36′W / 67.6°N 289.6°W Gabes, or Syrtis minor, a bay in Tunisia
Kumbaru Sinus 72°36′N 322°00′W / 72.6°N 322°W Kumbaru, Bay in India
Moray Sinus 76°36′N 281°24′W / 76.6°N 281.4°W Moray Firth in Scotland
Nicoya Sinus 74°48′N 251°12′W / 74.8°N 251.2°W Nicoya in Costa Rica
Okahu Sinus 73°42′N 282°00′W / 73.7°N 282°W Okahu Bay near Auckland, New Zealand
Patos Sinus 77°12′N 224°48′W / 77.2°N 224.8°W Patos, Fjord in Chile
Puget Sinus 82°24′N 241°06′W / 82.4°N 241.1°W Puget Sound in Washington, United States
Rombaken Sinus 75°18′N 232°54′W / 75.3°N 232.9°W Rombaken, Fjord in Norway
Skelton Sinus 76°48′N 314°54′W / 76.8°N 314.9°W Skelton Glacier near Ross Sea, Antarctica
Trold Sinus 71°18′N 292°42′W / 71.3°N 292.7°W Trold Fiord Formation in Nunavut, Canada
Tunu Sinus 79°12′N 299°48′W / 79.2°N 299.8°W Tunu, Fjord in Greenland
Wakasa Sinus 80°42′N 270°00′W / 80.7°N 270°W Wakasa, Bay in Japan
Walvis Sinus 58°12′N 324°06′W / 58.2°N 324.1°W Walvis Bay in Namibia

Virgae

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

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.

See also

References

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Titan Features". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  2. ↑ Greeley, Ronald (2013). Introduction to Planetary Geomorphology. Cambridge University Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-521-86711-5.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 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.
  4. ↑ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Titan Labyrinthi". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  5. ↑ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Ecaz Labyrinthus". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  6. ↑ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Kaitain Labyrinthus". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  7. ↑ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Richese Labyrinthus". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  8. ↑ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Sikun Labyrinthus". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. January 6, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  9. ↑ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Titan Planitiae". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  10. ↑ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Arrakis Planitia". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. April 5, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  11. ↑ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Caladan Planitia". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  12. ↑ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Chusuk Planitia". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. August 4, 2009. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  13. ↑ "Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature: Poritrin Planitia". Planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.

External links