Updated Titan Map Options

[David]

I think Phil is picking up on my possibly unfair skepticism : if it's not Scottish, it's crap. Same for
RADAR.

Ralphocentric view is - orientation of features is contrary to expectation , could it be an
artifact? If so, it is then an ISS artifact.

If it is real, it would be very interesting.

Well, the more northerly of that set of ISS images overlaps with a radar swath, so you could compare them. I'm having no luck finding a more detailed version of that swath, though -- I expect that won't be a problem for you.

[Juramike]

Well, the more northerly of that set of ISS images overlaps with a radar swath, so you could compare them. I'm having no luck finding a more detailed version of that swath, though -- I expect that won't be a problem for you.

The more northerly set of images is part of the T16 RADAR Swath (the leftmost section) which has been released as PIA09112 (available here). The right end of this swath is the section that drops down into Aaru basin. Here is a graphic which shows where T16 ends up in relation to the ISS "verticle lines".



There is a "secret swath" that passes much closer to the Playboy peninsula and also overlaps with some of the Ta RADAR swath. Unfortunately, this has not yet been released. [I'm drooling with anticipation since this might've come close to a cool-o interesting multi-ring feature].

-Mike

[Phil Stooke]

Duh - sorry, Ralph. I thought you were making a joke about the n-s trending straight lines at the top of the map... reprojected grid lines. I should never have doubted you. I never will again... well, not very often.

Phil

[David]

The more northerly set of images is part of the T16 RADAR Swath (the leftmost section) which has been released as PIA09112 (available here). The right end of this swath is the section that drops down into Aaru basin. Here is a graphic which shows where T16 ends up in relation to the ISS "verticle lines".

Thanks, Mike! That certainly does make it look like the seeming N-S dune field is artifactual -- there are real dunes in there, but they're going W-E. I'll certainly look forward to further radar swaths in this region.

[volcanopele]

Ralph, those are artifacts. The original CB3 images (or MT1 images, I can't recall at the moment) were taken in 8-bit mode in that area, so you see some effects from the dithering. And regarding the implication that if it isn't RADAR, it's cr@p, I'm telling!!!

BTW, here is the updated map with all RADAR SAR swaths in the PDS at the moment (including all the HiSAR stuff).

Attached thumbnail(s)

 

[belleraphon1]

VP...

Right now, you rule, man!!!!!

Even if I am more partial to the detail in the SAR...

Craig

[Juramike]

OK, I've [almost] given up.

Does anyone have any idea where the T19 Distant targeted look fits in?

I've been struggling to fit this in and just haven't been able make it work.

-Mike

[rlorenz]

Ralph, those are artifacts. The original CB3 images (or MT1 images, I can't recall at the moment) were taken in 8-bit mode in that area, so you see some effects from the dithering. And regarding the implication that if it isn't RADAR, it's cr@p, I'm telling!!!

Thanks VP - I figured that was the case. I guess a partial retraction is in order -
IF you take out the artifacts, and IF you somehow know whether a dark splot is
a sand sea or a methane lake, THEN the imaging is really pretty interesting .....

[volcanopele]

IF you somehow know whether a dark splot is
a sand sea or a methane lake, THEN the imaging is really pretty interesting .....

That's what my divining rod is for.

[Juramike]

Speaking of dark splots...the new mosaic shows a really nice dark splot down in S Senkyo basin.

Could this be an artifact or a Senkyo version of Omacatl Macula?
(It seemed to be present on the older maps as well, the newer mosaic brings out the contrast).

-Mike

[EDIT: Feature indicated]:

[volcanopele]

That little spot is one of my favorite little areas. Not sure what it is. It isn't an artifact, it has been seen in a number of mosaics covering this region. One possibility is that it could be a buried impact crater. In this area, it would appear we have bright material partly covered in dunes, but we have this circular feature that is much darker than the surrounding terrain. Perhaps this is an impact crater that has been subsequently filled in with sediment, then covered in dunes. Another possibility is that it is similar to Omacatl, a cryovolcano with an ashfall deposit, but this really doesn't have the same, parabolic shape that Omacatl and Elpis have.

[Juramike]

The parabolic inky black shape of Omacatl and Elpis Macula(e?) would be due to the prevailing winds causing the cryoashfall drift.

But the wind strength varies as Titan moves around in it's orbit, if the General Circulation Models are correct.

So...maybe the S Senkyo splot [name needed here] was a single-shot deal done during a calm-wind period. That would give it a nice regular circular diffusion to the fallout pattern rather than a downwind parabola.

Any chance this feature was imaged in the "secret unreleased RADAR swath"?

-Mike

[volcanopele]

I doubt that. Winds can vary, but I doubt there would dead calm for the duration or an eruption or eruptions, particularly at the altitude of the top of the eruption column.

Okay, I'll bite. What secret, unreleased SAR swath? T23?

[Juramike]

Yup. T23 (Jan 13, 2007) RADAR Swath.

I'm hoping they release it soon.....

The few images they've released (Ganesa Macula, half-crater image) are teasingly cool-o....

-Mike

[alan]

Some new images of Titan were taken on October 22. They cover the lowest resolution area on the latest Titan maps.
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/imag...iImageID=130136