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Cratering and Tectonic History of the Largest Uranian Satellite, Titania: New Insights Enabled by Image Reprocessing

Authors :
Erica Nathan
James Head
Christian Huber
Source :
The Planetary Science Journal, Vol 5, Iss 1, p 6 (2024)
Publication Year :
2024
Publisher :
IOP Publishing, 2024.

Abstract

From heavily cratered Umbriel to extensively tectonized Miranda, Titania is an intermediary of the Uranian system: heavily cratered, yet tectonically modified. An outstanding mystery in Titania's crater population is its apparent relative lack of large (>30 km) craters. However, progress has been limited by the coverage and quality of images available. Here, we present a new map of Titania enabled by reprocessing Voyager images to reduce the effects of motion blur. Of note, we identify a network of fractures, a set of lineaments that may represent a large multi-ring impact structure, and newly identified catenae. These findings suggest Titania's crater population is missing large craters due to viscous relaxation, tectonic resurfacing, and/or planetocentric debris, and does not necessarily require cryovolcanic resurfacing. In preparation for future missions to the Uranian system, this work presents foundations for identifying imaging targets that can contribute to furthering our understanding of the history and evolution of the Uranian system in a broader context of icy satellite evolution.

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
26323338
Volume :
5
Issue :
1
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
The Planetary Science Journal
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.824fb3c343cd47f8a10e150f6a73580d
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3847/PSJ/ad04d6