Map of Titan's surface features

Map of Titan's surface features. It was obtained through a "transparent", narrow spectral window with the 8.2-m VLT YEPUN telescope and the NACO adaptive optics instrument operated in the Simultaneous Differential Imager (SDI) mode. It covers about three-quarters of the full surface and has an image resolution (sharpness) of 0.06 arcsec, corresponding to 360 km on the surface. One degree of longitude on the equator corresponds to 45 km on Titan's surface. The brightness is proportional to the surface reflectivity. The nature of the various regions is still unknown although it is speculated that the darkest areas may indicate the extent of reservoirs of liquid hydrocarbons.

Credit:

ESO

About the Image

Id:eso0412a
Type:Observation
Release date:14 April 2004
Related releases:eso0412
Size:1920 x 805 px

About the Object

Name:Titan
Type:Solar System : Planet : Satellite : Feature : Surface
Category:Solar System

Image Formats

Large JPEG
276.4 KB
Screensize JPEG
102.8 KB

Wallpapers

1024x768
154.9 KB
1280x1024
210.0 KB
1600x1200
274.8 KB
1920x1200
315.3 KB
2048x1536
362.0 KB

Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Infrared
Near-IR
1.575 μmVery Large Telescope
NACO