Earth and Space News: Titan large ringed features

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Wednesday, June 15, 2022

Veles Is Large Ringed Feature on Titan's Anti-Saturn Side

Summary: Veles is a large ringed feature on Titan's anti-Saturn side that lies in eastern Shangri-La, a dark albedo feature in the equatorial belt.

Detail of Titan With ISS (Imaging Science Subsystem) Background shows Veles with nearest named northern neighbors Vis Facula and Tortola Facula; nearest named western neighbor Santori Facul (upper right); nearest named southwestern neighbor Kerguelen Facula (center); and nearest named large ringed feature Guabonito (lower center) in eastern Shangri-La: map credit NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute, via IAU/USGS Astrogeology Science Center Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Veles is a large ringed feature on Titan's anti-Saturn side that lies in eastern Shangri-La, a dark albedo feature centered in the southern equatorial belt.

Veles is centered at 2 degrees north latitude, 137.3 degrees west longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The large ringed feature obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 2.4 degrees north and 1.6 degrees north, respectively. It posts easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 136.9 degrees west and 137.8degrees west, respectively. Veles has a diameter of 45 kilometers.

Veles resides in eastern Shangri-La. Shangri-La is centered at minus 10 degrees south latitude, 165 degrees west longitude. The bright albedo feature's center latitude and longitude are repeated as its northernmost-southernmost latitudes and a sits easternmost-westernmost longitudes, respectively.

The large ringed feature's location in the eastern reaches of Sangri-La place it near Shangri-La's border with bright albedo feature Xanadu. Highly reflective Xanadu is centered at minus 15 degrees south latitude, 100 degrees west longitude. Xanadu marks its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 10 degrees north and minus 40 degrees south, respectively. It establishes its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 65 degrees west and 150 degrees west, respectively. Xanadu's diameter spans 3,400 kilometers.

Vis Facula resides in nearest, named northern proximity to Veles. The bright spot (Latin: facula, "little torch") is centered at 7 degrees north latitude, 138.4 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes occur at 8.3 degrees north and 5.5 degrees north, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes occur at 136.3 degrees west and 141.4 degrees west, respectively. Vis Facula's diameter spans 215 kilometers.

Tortola Facula qualifies as the nearest, named northwestern neighbor of large ringed feature Veles. Tortola Facula lies to the northwest of Vis Facula.

Tortola Facula is centered at 8.8 degrees north latitude, 143.1 degrees west longitude. The bright spot records northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 9.2 degrees north and 8 degrees north, respectively. It registers easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 142.5 degrees west and 143.8 degrees west, respectively. Tortola Facula's diameter measures 65 kilometers.

Santorini Facula is sited to the west of Veles. Santorini Facula is centered at 2.4 degrees north latitude, 145.6 degrees west longitude. The bright spot's northernmost and southernmost latitudes touch 3.2 degrees north and 1.5 degrees north, respectively. It achieves its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 144.2 degrees west and 147 degrees west, respectively. Santorini Facula's diameter spans 140 kilometers.

Kerguelen Facula occurs as the nearest, named southwestern neighbor of large ringed feature Veles. The bright spot's location south of the equator qualifies it as the nearest, named neighbor of Veles in the southern hemisphere.

Kerguelen Facula is centered at minus 5.4 degrees south latitude, 151 degrees west longitude. The bright spot's northernmost and southernmost latitudes reach minus 4.3 degrees south and minus 7.4 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes extend to 149.5 degrees west and 152.5 degrees west, respectively. Kerguelen Facula's diameter measures 135 kilometers.

Kerguelen Facula lies to the north of large ringed feature Guabonito. The large ringed feature is sited to the southwest of Veles, in eastern Shangri-La. Guabonito's location qualifies it as the only named large ringed feature that shares the same eastern Shangri-La neighborhood with Veles.

Guabonito is centered at minus 10.9 degrees south latitude, 150.8 degrees west longitude. The large ringed feature obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 10.2 degrees south and minus 11.5 degrees south, respectively. It posts easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 149.8 degrees west and 151.3 degrees west, respectively. Guabonito has a diameter of 55 kilometers.

As large ringed features, Guabonito and Veles are defined as "Cryptic ringed features," according to the Descriptor Terms (Feature Types) page of the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The online gazetteer, established by The International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN), is maintained by The Planetary Geomatics Group of the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center maintains the online Gazetteer.

Guabonito and Veles form a quartet with two other named large ringed features. Nath and Paxsi, which are also equatorial belt occupants, lie distantly from Guabonito and Veles.

Nath resides to the southeast of Guabonito and Veles as a straddler of the southern equatorial belt's southernmost latitudes and the southern hemisphere's northernmost mid-latitudes. It is centered at minus 30.5 degrees south latitude, 7.7 degrees west longitude. The southern equatorial and mid-latitude occupant's northernmost and southernmost latitudes extend to minus 29.5 degrees south and minus 31.6 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes touch 6.5 degrees west and 8.8 degrees west, respectively. Nath has a diameter of 95 kilometers.

Paxsi lies distantly to the northwest of Guabonito and to the west of Veles in the northern equatorial latitudes. It is centered at 5 degrees north latitude, 341.2 degrees west longitude. Paxsi's northernmost and southernmost latitudes occur at 6.7 degrees north and 3.7 degrees north, respectively. It obtains its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 339.8 degrees west and 342.6 degrees west, respectively. Paxsi has a diameter of 120 kilometers.

The International Astronomical Union approved Veles as the large ringed feature's official name in 2006. The Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature explains Veles as "Slavic god of housekeeping wisdom." Names for Titan's craters and ringed features recognize "Gods and goddesses of wisdom," according to the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature's documentation page, "Categories (Themes) for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites."

Detail of Titan With ISS (Imaging Science Subsystem) Background shows Guabonito (lower center) in eastern Shangri-La: map credit NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute, via IAU/USGS Astrogeology Science Center Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Dedication

This post is dedicated to the memory of our beloved blue-eyed brother, Charles, who guided the creation of the Met Opera and Astronomy posts on Earth and Space News. We memorialized our brother in "Our Beloved Blue-Eyed Brother, Charles, With Whom We Are Well Pleased," published on Earth and Space News on Thursday, Nov. 18, 2021, an anniversary of our beloved father's death.

Image credits:

Detail of Titan With ISS (Imaging Science Subsystem) Background shows dark albedo feature Shangri-La, homeland of large ringed features Guabonito and Veles, on Titan's anti-Saturn side: map credit NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute, via IAU/USGS Astrogeology Science Center Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/Titan_comp_ISSimage.pdf

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International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Guabonito.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 1, 2006.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/7017

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Kerguelen Facula.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Dec. 28, 2015.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/6996

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Nath.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 1, 2006.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/7018

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Paxsi.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct 15, 2010.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/14781

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Santorini Facula.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 1, 2006.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/6998

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Shangri-La.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated April 20, 2009.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/6990

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Tortola Facula.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 1, 2006.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/7016

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Veles.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Dec. 30, 2008.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/7019

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Vis Facula.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 1, 2006.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/7000

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Xanadu.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 1, 2006.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/6958

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Marriner, Derdriu. "All Four of Titan's Large Ringed Features Occur in the Equatorial Belt." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 18, 2022.
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Available @

Marriner, Derdriu. "Nath Is Large Ringed Feature on Titan's Saturn-Facing Side." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, June 1, 2022.
Available @

Marriner, Derdriu. "Paxsi Is Large Ringed Feature on Titan's Saturn-Facing Side." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, June 8, 2022.
Available @

Marriner, Derdriu. "Shangri-La Is Equatorial Dark Albedo Feature on Titan's Far Side." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, March 30, 2022.
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Wednesday, June 8, 2022

Paxsi Is Large Ringed Feature on Titan's Saturn-Facing Side

Summary: Paxsi is a large ringed feature on Titan's Saturn-facing side that lies on bright terrain between equatorial dark albedo features Aaru and Senkyo.

Detail of Titan With ISS (Imaging Science Subsystem) Background shows Paxsi (upper left) in northwestern Senkyo, near Aaru: map credit NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute, via IAU/USGS Astrogeology Science Center Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Paxsi is a large ringed feature on Titan's Saturn-facing side that lies on bright terrain between Aaru and Senkyo, dark albedo features in the equatorial belt.

Paxsi is centered at 5 degrees north latitude, 341.2 degrees west longitude, according to the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The circular feature obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 6.7 degrees north and 3.7 degrees north, respectively. It marks its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 339.8 degrees west and 342.6 degrees west, respectively. Paxsi's diameter measures 120 kilometers.

Paxsi was discovered during the Cassini spacecraft's T61 flyby, conducted Aug. 25, 2009, according to planetary scientist Bonnie J. Buratti and nine co-authors in their article, "A Newly Discovered Impact Crater in Titan's Senkyo," published in the January 2012 issue of Planetary and Space Science (page 20). The flyby targeted the area of western Senkyo near Aaru, two dark albedo features in the equatorial belt. Observations by the spacecraft's Visual and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) revealed an unknown, circular feature, known as Paxsi since 2010, centered at 5.4 degrees north latitude, 341 degrees west longitude, in western Senkyo.

Paxsi occupies bright terrain that intervenes between dark Aaru and dark Senkyo. Paxsi's formation occurred at the interface of the large ringed feature's adjacent, bright, highly reflective terrain with the low reflectivity of dune-rich Aaru and Senkyo.

Aaru is centered at 10 degrees north latitude, 340 degrees west longitude. Its center coordinates are given as its northernmost-southern latitudes and easternmost-westernmost longitudes.

Senkyo lies to the south of Aaru. The low albedo feature is centered at minus 5 degrees south latitude, 320 degrees west longitude. The southern equatorial belt-centered feature's center latitude and longitude are repeated as its northernmost-southernmost latitudes and easternmost-westernmost longitudes, respectively.

Large ringed features such as Paxsi are described as "Cryptic ringed features" by the Descriptor Terms (Feature Types) page of the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The Planetary Geomatics Group of the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center maintains the online gazetteer, which was established by The International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN).

The Gazetteer lists four named large ringed features. Guabonito, Nath and Veles also are classed as large ringed features.

Nath lies to the southwest as Paxsi's nearest large ringed neighbor. It is located in Tsegihi, a bright albedo feature centered at minus 40 degrees south latitude, 10 degrees west longitude.

Nath's center coordinates of minus 30.5 degrees south latitude, 7.7 degrees west longitude qualify it as the only large ringed feature that is centered, not in the equatorial belt, but instead in Titan's mid-latitudes.

The southern equatorial and mid-latitude occupant's northernmost and southernmost latitudes extend to minus 29.5 degrees south and minus 31.6 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 6.5 degrees west and 8.8 degrees west, respectively. Nath has a diameter of 95 kilometers.

Guabonito and Veles lie distantly to the southeast of Nath. Veles is positioned to the northwest of Guabonito. Both are located in Shangri-La, a dark albedo feature on Titan's anti-Saturn side. Shangri-La is centered at minus 10 degrees south latitude, 165 degrees west longitude.

Guabonito is centered at minus 10.9 degrees south latitude, 150.8 degrees west longitude. It records northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 10.2 degrees south and minus 11.5 degrees south, respectively. It registers easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 149.8 degrees west and 151.3 degrees west, respectively. Guabonito's diameter measures 55 kilometers.

Veles is centered at 2 degrees north latitude, 137.3 degrees west longitude. It estalishes its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 2.4 degrees north and 1.6 degrees north, respectively. It posts easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 136.9 degrees west and 137.8 degrees west, respectively. Veles has a diameter of 45 kilometers.

The International Astronomical Union approved Paxsi as the large ringed feature's official name on Oct. 15, 2010. The Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature traces the name to the "Aymara (Peru, Bolivia) goddess of the moon, education and knowledge." Titan's craters and ringed features are named after "Gods and goddesses of wisdom," according to the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature's documentation page, "Categories (Themes) for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites."

Detail of Titan With ISS (Imaging Science Subsystem) Background shows Paxsi (upper left) as northern equatorial occupant in bright terrain between Aaru and Senkyo; bright albedo feature Tsegihi, home to Paxsi's closest large ringed neighbor, Nath, lies to the south (lower left): map credit NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute, via IAU/USGS Astrogeology Science Center Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Dedication

Buratti, B. J. (Bonnie J.); C. Sotin; K. Lawrence; R.H. Brown; S. (Stéphane) Le Mouélic; J.M. Soderblom; J. Barnes; R.N. Clark; K.H. Baines; and P.D. Nicholson. "A New Discovered Impact Crater in Titan's Senkyo: CASSINI VIMS Observations and Comparison With Other Impact Features." Planetary and Space Science, vol. 60, issue 1 (January 2012): 18-25. DOI: 10.1016/j.pss.2011.05.004
Available via barnesos.net @ http://www.barnesos.net/publications/papers/2012.01.PSS.Buratti.Paxsi.pdf
Available via Harvard ADSABS (NASA Astrophysics Data System Abstracts) @ https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2012P%26SS...60...18B/abstract
Available via ScienceDirect @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0032063311001590?

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Tsegihi.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 1, 2006.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/6991

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "PIA21923: Seeing Titan with Infrared Eyes." NASA JPL Photojournal. Image addition date 2018-07-18.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21923

Marriner, Derdriu. "Aaru Is Equatorial Dark Albedo Feature on Titan's Saturn-Facing Side." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, Jan. 12, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/01/aaru-is-equatorial-dark-albedo-feature.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Guabonito Is Large Ringed Feature on Titan's Anti-Saturn Side." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, May 25, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/05/guabonito-is-large-ringed-feature-on.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Nath Is Large Ringed Feature on Titan's Saturn-Facing Side." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, June 1, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/06/nath-is-large-ringed-feature-on-titans.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Senkyo Is Equatorial Dark Albedo Feature on Titan's Saturn-Facing Side." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, March 23, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2021/08/senkyo-is-equatorial-dark-albedo.html

Marriner, Derdriu. "Tsegihi Is Mid-Latitude Bright Albedo Feature on Titan's Saturn Side." Earth and Space News. Wednesday, April 6, 2022.
Available @ https://earth-and-space-news.blogspot.com/2022/04/tsegihi-is-mid-latitude-bright-albedo.html

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Wednesday, June 1, 2022

Nath Is Large Ringed Feature on Titan's Saturn-Facing Side

Summary: Nath is a large ringed feature on Titan's Saturn-facing side that lies in northeastern Tsegihi, a bright albedo feature in the southern mid-latitudes.

Detail of Titan With ISS (Imaging Science Subsystem) Background shows Guabonito (upper right) as southern equatorial-southern middle latitude straddler in northeastern Tsegihi: map credit NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute, via IAU/USGS Astrogeology Science Center Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Nath is a large ringed feature on Titan's Saturn-facing side that lies in northeastern Tsegihi, a bright albedo feature centered in the Titanean southern hemisphere's middle latitudes.

Nath is centered at minus 30.5 degrees south latitude, 7.7 degrees west longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union's (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. It obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 29.5 degrees south and minus 31.6 degrees south, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes occur at 6.5 degrees west and 8.8 degrees west, respectively. Nath's diameter measures 95 kilometers.

The large ringed feature's northern boundary places it within the southern low latitudes of Titan's equatorial belt. Its southern border reaches into the Titanean southern hemisphere's middle latitudes.

Large ringed features are described as "Cryptic ringed features," according to the Descriptor Terms (Feature Types) page of the Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The online gazetter is provided by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN) and is maintained by The Planetary Geomatics Group of the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center.

Titan claims four named large ringed features. All four large ringed features are associated with Titan's equatorial belt. Nath, however, is the only large ringed feature with a border that straddles the equatorial belt and the middle latitudes.

Paxsi lies to the northeast in the northern equatorial latitudes. It is sited on bright terrain between dark albedo feature Aaru, to the north, and dark albedo feature Senkyo, to the south.

Paxsi is centered at 5 degrees north latitude, 341.2 degrees west longitude. Paxsi marks its northernmost and southernmost latitudes at 6.7 degrees north and 3.7 degrees north, respectively. It posts easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 339.8 degrees west and 342.6 degrees west, respectively. Paxsi's diameter measures 120 kilometers.

Titan's planetographic coordinate system numbers longitude westward from the Saturnian moon's prime meridian, 0 degrees longitude. Paxsi's location in the high western longitudes, 18.8 degrees of longitude east of the prime meridian, qualifies it not only as Nath's nearest large ringed neighbor but also as the only large ringed feature lying to the east of Nath.

Veles resides to the northwest as Nath's second closest large ringed feature. It is located near the eastern margins of dark albedo feature Shangri-La.

Veles is centered at 2 degrees north latitude, 137.3 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes touch 2.4 degrees north and 1.6 degrees north, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes reach 136.9 degrees west and 137.8 degrees west, respectively. Veles has a diameter of 45 kilometers.

Guabonito, Nath's third closest large ringed feature, lies to the northwest of Nath. Guabonito neighbors to the southwest of Veles in eastern Shangri-La.

Nath's location as a straddler of the southernmost equatorial latitude and the northernmost southern middle latitudes places it in northeastern Tsegihi, a bright albedo feature in the southern hemisphere. Tsegihi is centered at minus 40 degrees south latitude, 10 degrees west longitude.

Tsegihi's center coordinates qualify the bright albedo feature as one of only two Titanean albedo features that are centered outside the equatorial belt. The other 11 of Titan's 13 albedo features are all centered on the equatorial belt.

Tsegihi's southern neighbor, Mezzoramia, joins Tsegihi in centering outside the equatorial belt. The south polar region dark albedo feature is centered at minus 70 degrees south latitude, 0 degrees longitude.

The International Astronomical Union approved Nath's name in 2006. The Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature describes Nath as "Irish goddess of wisdom." Titan's craters and large ringed features are named after "Gods and goddesses of wisdom," according to the Gazetter of Planetary Nomenclature's documentation page, "Categories (Themes) for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites."

Detail of Titan With ISS (Imaging Science Subsystem) Background shows Nath (upper right) as southern equatorial-middle latitude occupant that lies 7.7 degrees west of Titan's prime meridian: map credit NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute, via IAU/USGS Astrogeology Science Center Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Dedication

Detail of Titan With ISS (Imaging Science Subsystem) Background shows Nath (upper right) in eastern Shangri-La: map credit NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute, via IAU/USGS Astrogeology Science Center Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/images/Titan_comp_ISSimage.pdf

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Mezzoramia.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 1, 2006.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/6987

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "PIA21923: Seeing Titan with Infrared Eyes." NASA JPL Photojournal. Image addition date 2018-07-18.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21923

Wood, Charles A.; Ralph Lorenz; Randy Kirk; Rosaly Lopes; Karl Mitchell; Ellen Stofan; and The Cassini RADAR Team. "Impact Craters on Titan." Icarus, vol. 206, issue 1 (March 2010): 334-344.
Available @ http://www2.ess.ucla.edu/~jewitt/class/Surfaces_Papers/Wood_10.pdf

Wednesday, May 25, 2022

Guabonito Is Large Ringed Feature on Titan's Anti-Saturn Side

Summary: Guabonito is a large ringed feature on Titan's anti-Saturn side that lies in eastern Shangri-La, a dark albedo feature in the equatorial belt.

Image, obtained April 30, 2006, with the Cassini spacecraft's Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) instrument, shows Guabonito (center) as bright-rimmed, dark-infilled circular feature in eastern margin of dark albedo feature Shangri-La, near Shangri-La's bright albedo eastern neighbor, Xanadu (center-to-lower right); image addition date 2006-05-03; image credit NASA/JPL-Caltech/ASI: May be used for any purpose without prior permission, via NASA JPL Photojournal

Guabonito is a large ringed feature on Titan's anti-Saturn side that lies in eastern Shangri-La, a dark albedo feature centered in the southern equatorial belt.

Guabonito is centered at minus 10.9 degrees south latitude, 150.8 degrees west longitude, according to the International Astronomical Union’s (IAU) Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The large ringed feature obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 10.2 degrees south and minus 11.5 degrees south, respectively. It posts easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 149.8 degrees west and 151.3 degrees west, respectively. Guabonito has a diameter of 55 kilometers.

The large ringed feature's center coordinates place it in eastern Shangri-La, an equatorial dark albedo feature. Shangri-La is centered at minus 10 degrees south latitude, 165 degrees west longitude.

Kerguelen Facula and Shikoku Facula reside as Guabonito's nearest named neighbors in eastern Shangri-La. Kerguelen Facula lies to the north of Guabonito. Shikoku Facula is sited to the northwest of Guabonito.

Guabonito's nearest named northern neighbor, Kerguelen Facula, is centered at minus 5.4 degrees south latitude, 151 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes occur at minus 4.3 degrees south and minus 7.4 degrees south, respectively. The bright spot (Latin: facula, "little torch") establishes its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 149.5 degrees west and 152.5 degrees west, respectively. Kerguelen Facula's diameter measures 135 kilometers.

Shikoku Facula is centered at minus 10.4 degrees south latitude, 164.1 degrees west longitude. The bright spot posts northernmost and southernmost latitudes of minus 7 degrees south and minus 13.3 degrees south, respectively. It marks its easternmost and westernmost longitudes at 161.9 degrees west and 166.6 degrees west, respectively. Shikoku Facula's diameter measures 285 kilometers.

A large ringed feature is defined as "Cryptic ringed features," according to the Descriptor Terms (Feature Types) provided by the International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN) via the group's Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. The Planetary Geomatics Group of the United States Geological Survey's (USGS) Astrogeology Science Center maintains the online Gazetteer.

Guabonito numbers as one of four large ringed features on Titan. All four are positioned in Titan's equatorial belt.

Nath resides distantly to the southeast of Guabonito. It is centered at minus 30.5 degrees south latitude, 7.7 degrees west longitude. Its northernmost and southernmost latitudes reach minus 29.5 degrees south and minus 31.6 degrees south, respectively. The southern equatorial and mid-latitude occupant records easternmost and westernmost longitudes of 6.5 degrees west and 8.8 degrees west, respectively. Nath has a diameter of 95 kilometers.

Paxsi lies far to the northwest of Guabonito in the northern equatorial latitudes. It is centered at 5 degrees north latitude, 341.2 degrees west longitude. Paxsi obtains northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 6.7 degrees north and 3.7 degrees north, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes occur at 339.8 degrees west and 342.6 degrees west, respectively. Paxsi has a diameter of 120 kilometers.

Its location to the northeast of Guabonito in eastern Shangri-La qualifies Veles as the large ringed feature that lies the closest to Guabonito. It is centered at 2 degrees north latitude, 137.3 degrees west longitude. Veles registers northernmost and southernmost latitudes of 2.4 degrees north and 1.6 degrees north, respectively. Its easternmost and westernmost longitudes touch 136.9 degrees west and 137.8 degrees west, respectively. Veles has a diameter of 45 kilometers.

Guabonito's first discovery occurred from images obtained during observations made by the Cassini spacecraft's Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS), according to planetary geologist Charles A. Wood and six co-authors in their study, "Impact Craters on Titan," published in the March 2010 issue of Icarus (page 140). The observations were obtained during the first two close flybys of Titan, which took place Oct. 26, 2004 (TA), and Dec. 13, 2004 (TB), according to planetary scientist Carolyn Porco and 35 co-authors in "Imaging of Titan From the Cassini Spacecraft," published in the March 10, 2005, issue of Nature. The ISS observations acquired by the two close flybys were preceded by ISS images obtained from a distant, first encounter, designated as T0, on July 2, 2004 (page 159).

These first images present Guabonito as a "bright ring," as described by Charles Wood and his six co-authors. High-resolution radar images reveal Guabonito's ". . . massive and wide, relatively smooth . . ." rim. Guabonito appears as the 27th of 49 entries in the study's Catalog of Titan Impact Craters Ta Through T39 (Table 1, page 335). The table's description notes "Guabonito -- massive brt rim, dk floor (dunes), surrounded by dunes."

The International Astronomical Union approved Guabonito's name in 2006. The Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature indicates Guabonito as "Taino Indian (Antilles) sea goddess who taught the use of amulets." Titanean craters and ringed features receive names of "Gods and goddesses of wisdom," according to the Gazetter of Planetary Nomenclature's documentation page, "Categories (Themes) for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites."

Acknowledgment

My special thanks to talented artists and photographers/concerned organizations who make their fine images available on the internet.

Dedication

International Astronomical Union (IAU) Working Group for Planetary System Nomenclature (WGPSN). “Shikoku Facula.” USGS Astrogeology Science Center > Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Last updated Oct. 1, 2006.
Available @ https://planetarynames.wr.usgs.gov/Feature/6999

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "PIA00699: Titan Radar Swath (T-48 Flyby -- Dec. 5, 2008)." NASA JPL Photojournal. Image addition date 2008-12-05.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA00699

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "PIA08425: Radar Images the Margin of Xanadu." NASA JPL Photojournal. Image addition date 2006-05-03.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA08425

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "PIA08426: Radar Images Shikoku -- 'Great Britain.'" NASA JPL Photojournal. Image addition date 2006-05-03.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA08426

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "PIA20710: Flowing Dunes of Shangri-La." NASA JPL Photojournal. Image addition date 2016-09-07.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20710

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "PIA20711: Flowing Dunes of Shangri-La (Denoised)." NASA JPL Photojournal. Image addition date 2016-09-07.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20711

Jet Propulsion Laboratory. "PIA21923: Seeing Titan with Infrared Eyes." NASA JPL Photojournal. Image addition date 2018-07-18.
Available @ https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA21923

Lake, B.D.; J. (Jani) Radebaugh; E.H. Christiansen; D. Rose; J.W. (Jason W.) Barnes; and E.P. (Elizabeth P.) Turtle. "Sand Distribution and Possible Surface Albedo Influences in the Shangri-La Sand Sea of Titan." Sixth International Planetary Dunes Workshop (Virtual), May 12-13, 2020 (LPIContrib.No.2188)
Available @ https://www.hou.usra.edu/meetings/dunes2020/pdf/3047.pdf

Rannou, P. (Pascal); D. Toledo; P. Lavvas; E. D'Aversa; M.L. Moriconi; A. Adriani; S. Le Mouélic; C. Sotin; and R. Brown. "Titan's Surface Spectra at the Huygens Landing Site and Shangri-La." Icarus, vol. 270 (May 15, 2016): 291-306.
Available via ScienceDirect @ https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0019103515004212