Physics
Scientific paper
Dec 2011
adsabs.harvard.edu/cgi-bin/nph-data_query?bibcode=2011agufm.p32c..08k&link_type=abstract
American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting 2011, abstract #P32C-08
Physics
[5420] Planetary Sciences: Solid Surface Planets / Impact Phenomena, Cratering, [6281] Planetary Sciences: Solar System Objects / Titan
Scientific paper
Cassini RADAR imagery obtained on Titan flyby T77 revealed a 40-km diameter fresh impact crater at 11.6° N 44.6° W. This is only the 8th crater identified with high confidence (Wood et al., 2010, Icarus 206, 334), and the 3rd (after Sinlap D=79 km and Ksa D=30 km) for which the depth can be estimated by comparing the foreshortening of the near and far walls. This "autostereo" technique yields an estimated depth of 680 m. The T77 image forms a stereo pair with the T17 discovery image of Ksa from which we estimate the depth of Ksa at 750-800 m, in close agreement with SARTopo data. The depth of Sinlap is 760 m based on SARTopo. Depth-diameter ratios for these craters thus range from 0.01 to 0.025 and the depths are comparable to but 200-400 m shallower than fresh craters of the same size on Ganymede (Bray et al., 2008, Met. Planet Sci. 43, 1979). The depth differences could be explained by initial crater morphometry, by relaxation in a different thermal environment, or (perhaps most plausibly given the bland floors of even the freshest Titan craters) to sedimentary infill. In contrast, the 18x36 km elliptical depression at Sotra Facula is much deeper than Ganymede craters of similar size (d=1500 m from stereo), supporting the conclusion that it is not an impact crater. All three craters exhibit a relatively radar-bright annulus around the outer edge of the floor, possibly as the result of mass wasting of blocky materials from the crater walls. The central part of each crater is darker. The central darker floor of the new crater is symmetrical and featureless, whereas Ksa has a bright central ring 7 km in diameter. Stereo spot heights indicate the ring is 350±100 m above the outer floor. This height is in close agreement with the scaling for Ganymede crater central peaks from Bray et al. (2008). The darker floor area of Sinlap is substantially asymmetrical with a small bright central spot whose elevation is unknown. The new crater has continuous, radar-bright ejecta to a distance of 15-20 km (0.3-0.5 diameters) beyond the rim. Compared to the ejecta blankets of Ksa and Sinlap, this deposit has been encroached upon only slightly by dunes and thus appears more nearly symmetrical. We initially interpreted the ejecta as having a thickness of several hundred meters (which would be unique on Titan) based on apparent shading at the northern edge, but close inspection shows this to be an optical illusion caused by a thin band of dark plains showing between the edge of the ejecta and nearby bright flow fields that encircle about 3/4 of the circumference. Although these flows may predate the impact crater, they bear a striking resemblance to melt flows associated with crater ejecta on Venus (Asimow and Wood, 1992, JGR 97, 13643; Chadwick and Schubert, 1993, JGR 98, 20891), reinforcing the intriguing possibility of low viscosity impact melt formation on Titan, as Soderblom et al. (2010, JGR 208, 905) argue occurred at Selk crater.
Cassini RADAR Team
Hayes Alexander G.
Kirk Randolph L.
Lucas Amand A.
Neish Catherine
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