土卫六上一个5微米的亮点：表面多样性的证据。

A 5-micron-bright spot on Titan: evidence for surface diversity.

作者信息

Barnes Jason W, Brown Robert H, Turtle Elizabeth P, McEwen Alfred S, Lorenz Ralph D, Janssen Michael, Schaller Emily L, Brown Michael E, Buratti Bonnie J, Sotin Christophe, Griffith Caitlin, Clark Roger, Perry Jason, Fussner Stephanie, Barbara John, West Richard, Elachi Charles, Bouchez Antonin H, Roe Henry G, Baines Kevin H, Bellucci Giancarlo, Bibring Jean-Pierre, Capaccioni Fabrizio, Cerroni Priscilla, Combes Michel, Coradini Angioletta, Cruikshank Dale P, Drossart Pierre, Formisano Vittorio, Jaumann Ralf, Langevin Yves, Matson Dennis L, McCord Thomas B, Nicholson Phillip D, Sicardy Bruno

机构信息

Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.

出版信息

Science. 2005 Oct 7;310(5745):92-5. doi: 10.1126/science.1117075.

DOI:10.1126/science.1117075

PMID:16210535

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.

摘要

卡西尼号视觉与红外绘图光谱仪的观测结果显示，在土卫六上西经80度、南纬20度处有一个异常明亮的斑点。在所有观测波长下，该区域的反射光都很明亮，但在5微米波长处最为明显。这个斑点与卡西尼号成像科学子系统拍摄的图像中识别出的一个表面反照率特征有关。我们讨论了关于该斑点来源的各种假设，得出的结论是，这个斑点可能是由于表面成分的变化，也许与近期的地球物理现象有关。