List of geological features on Titan

This is a list of named geological features on Saturn's moon Titan. Official names for these features have only been announced very recently, as Titan's surface was virtually unknown before the arrival of the Cassini–Huygens probe.[1][2] Some features were known by informal nicknames beforehand; these names are noted where appropriate. Note that some features with a physical size given by "diameter" may not be circular and actually refers to its length.[note 1]

Global map of Titan – with IAU labels (August 2016).
Titan − the surface under the haze (December 2018)

Albedo features

Titan – infrared views (2004–2017)

Albedo features on Titan are named after sacred or enchanted places in world mythologies and literature.[3]

Bright albedo features

Albedo featureCoordinatesNamed after
Adiri10°S 210°WAdiri, Melanesian paradise[4]
Dilmun15°N 175°WDilmun, Sumerian heaven
Quivira0°N 15°WQuivira, legendary city in southwestern America
Tsegihi40°S 10°WTsegihi, Navajo sacred place
Xanadu15°S 100°WXanadu, an imaginary palace in Coleridge's Kubla Khan

Dark albedo features

Albedo featureCoordinatesNamed afterInformal name
Aaru10°N 340°WAaru, Egyptian paradise
Aztlan10°S 20°WAztlán, mythical Aztec homelandSouthern part of 'Lying H'
Belet5°S 255°WBelet, Malay paradise
Ching-tu30°S 205°WChing-tu, Chinese Buddhist paradise
Fensal5°N 30°WFensalir, Norse heavenly mansionNorthern part of 'Lying H'
Mezzoramia70°S 0°WMezzoramia, African oasis of happiness from Italian legend
Senkyo5°S 320°WSenkyo, Japanese paradise
Shangri-La10°S 165°WShangri-La, Tibetan paradise

Arcūs

Titanean arcūs (arc-shaped features) are named after deities of happiness.[5]

Albedo featureCoordinatesNamed after
Hotei Arcus28°S 79°WHotei, Japanese god

Colles

Colles are small hills or knobs which are named after characters in J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth.[6]

CollisCoordinatesDiameter (km)Named after
Arwen Colles[6]7.5°S 250.0°W / -7.5; -250.0 (Arwen)64Arwen, character from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Bilbo Colles[6]4.2°S 38.6°W / -4.2; -38.6 (Bilbo)164Bilbo Baggins, titular character of Tolkien's The Hobbit
Faramir Colles[6]4.0°N 153.8°W / 4.0; -153.8 (Faramir)82Faramir, character from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Gandalf Colles[6]14.6°N 209.5°W / 14.6; -209.5 (Gandalf)102Gandalf, character from Tolkien's The Lord of the Rings trilogy
Handir Colles[6]10.0°N 356.7°W / 10.0; -356.7 (Handir)100Handir, character from Tolkien's The Silmarillion
Nimloth Colles[6]11.9°N 151.3°W / 11.9; -151.3 (Nimloth)90Nimloth, name of a character and a tree from Tolkien's Middle-earth

Craters

Craters on Titan are named after deities of wisdom.[7]

CraterCoordinatesDiameter (km)Named afterInformal name
Afekan25.8°N 200.3°W / 25.8; -200.3 (Afekan)115.0Afekan, New Guinean creator goddess
Beag34.7°S 169.6°W / -34.7; -169.6 (Beag)145.0Beag, Irish/Celtic goddess
Forseti25.5°N 10.4°W / 25.5; -10.4 (Forseti)115.0Forseti, Norse god
Hano40.3°N 14.9°E / 40.3; 14.9 (Hano)100.0Hano, Bella Coola (northwestern USA and western Canada) goddess of education knowledge and magic. She manifested as a shaman so she could teach the people
Ksa14.0°N 65.4°W / 14.0; -65.4 (Ksa)29.0Ksa, Lakota/Oglala spirit
Menrva20.1°N 87.2°W / 20.1; -87.2 (Menrva)392.0Menrva, Etruscan goddess'Circus Maximus'
Momoy 11.6°N 44.6°W / 11.6; -44.6 (Momoy) 40.0 Momoy, Chumash ancestor shaman and goddess of magic
Mystis0.1°N 194.9°W / 0.1; -194.9 (Mystis)20.0Mystis, Greek nymph
Selk crater7.0°N 199.0°W / 7.0; -199.0 (Selk)80.0Selk, Egyptian goddess
Sinlap11.3°N 16.0°W / 11.3; -16.0 (Sinlap)80.0Sinlap, Kachin spirit
Soi24.3°N 140.9°W / 24.3; -140.9 (Soi)75.0Soi, Melanesian (New Ireland Island Papua New Guinea) god of wisdom

Faculae

Faculae (bright spots) are named after islands on Earth that are not politically independent.[8] Groups of faculae are named after archipelagos on Earth.

FaculaCoordinatesNamed afterInformal name
Antilia Faculae11.0°S 187.0°W / -11.0; -187.0 (Antilia Faculae)Antillia, mythical Atlantic archipelago
Bazaruto Facula11.6°N 16.1°W / 11.6; -16.1 (Bazaruto Facula)Bazaruto, Mozambique island
Coats Facula11.1°S 29.2°W / -11.1; -29.2 (Coats Facula)Coats Island, Canada
Crete Facula9.4°N 150.1°W / 9.4; -150.1 (Crete Facula)Crete, Greek island
Elba Facula10.8°S 1.2°W / -10.8; -1.2 (Elba Facula)Elba, Italian island
Kerguelen Facula5.4°S 151.0°W / -5.4; -151.0 (Kerguelen Facula)Kerguelen Islands, French subantarctic island
Mindanao Facula6.6°S 174.2°W / -6.6; -174.2 (Mindanao Facula)Mindanao, Philippine island'Ireland'
Nicobar Faculae2.0°N 159.0°W / 2.0; -159.0 (Nicobar Faculae)Nicobar Islands, Indian archipelago
Oahu Facula5.0°N 166.7°W / 5.0; -166.7 (Oahu Facula)Oahu, Hawaiian island
Santorini Facula2.4°N 145.6°W / 2.4; -145.6 (Santorini Facula)Santorini, Greek island
Shikoku Facula10.4°S 164.1°W / -10.4; -164.1 (Shikoku Facula)Shikoku, Japanese island'Great Britain'
Sotra Facula12.5°S 39.8°W / -12.5; -39.8 (Sotra Facula)Sotra, Norwegian island'The Rose'
Texel Facula11.5°S 182.6°W / -11.5; -182.6 (Texel Facula)Texel, Dutch island'Manhattan'
Tortola Facula8.8°N 143.1°W / 8.8; -143.1 (Tortola Facula)Tortola, British Virgin Islands'The Snail'
Vis Facula7.0°N 138.4°W / 7.0; -138.4 (Vis Facula)Vis, Croatian island

Fluctūs

The term "fluctus" refers to flow terrain. Fluctūs on Titan are named after mythological figures associated with beauty.[9]

FluctusCoordinatesNamed after
Ara Fluctus39.8°N 118.4°W / 39.8; -118.4 (Ara Fluctus)Ara the Beautiful, Armenian legendary figure
Leilah Fluctus50.5°N 77.8°W / 50.5; -77.8 (Leilah Fluctus)Layla, Persian goddess
Mohini Fluctus 11.78°S 38.53°W / -11.78; -38.53 (Mohini) Mohini, Indian goddess of beauty and magic
Rohe Fluctus47.3°N 37.75°W / 47.3; -37.75 (Rohe Fluctus)Rohe, Māori goddess
Winia Fluctus49.0°N 46.0°W / 49.0; -46.0 (Winia Fluctus)Winia, Indonesian first woman

Flumina

A flumen is a feature that looks like a channel carved by liquid. Flumina refers to a network of rivers. They are named after mythical or imaginary rivers.[10]

FluminaCoordinates Length (km)[note 1]Named after
Apanohuaya Flumen 84.29°N 297.24°W / 84.29; -297.24 (Apanohuaya Flumen) 64 Apanohuaya,[11] mythological river in the Aztec Underworld
Celadon Flumina73.7°S 28.8°W / -73.7; -28.8 (Celadon Flumina) 160Celadon, river in Homer's Iliad
Elivagar Flumina19.3°N 78.5°W / 19.3; -78.5 (Elivagar Flumina) 260The Élivágar, a group of ice rivers in Norse mythology
Hubur Flumen70.2°S 192.9°W / -70.2; -192.9 (Hubur Flumen) 84Hubur, river of the underworld in Mesopotamian mythology
Karesos Flumen70.9°S 194.8°W / -70.9; -194.8 (Karesos Flumen) 83River in Homer's Iliad
Saraswati Flumen74.6°S 193.5°W / -74.6; -193.5 (Saraswati Flumen) 2.9Saraswati, river in Hindu mythology
Vid Flumina72.9°N 242.5°W / 72.9; -242.5 (Vid Flumina) 158One of the rivers in Élivágar.
Xanthus Flumen83.47°N 242.76°W / 83.47; -242.76 (Xanthus Flumina) 78Name of the Gods of the river Skamandros in the Iliad.

Freta

A fretum (plural freta) is a strait of liquid connecting two larger liquid bodies. They are named after characters from the Foundation series of science fiction novels by Isaac Asimov.[12]

FretumCoordinates Length (km)[note 1]Named after Informal name
Bayta Fretum73°N 311.2°W / 73; -311.2 (Bayta Fretum) 165Bayta Darell, fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, wife of the Trader Toran Darell and grandmother of famous author Arcadia Darell.
Hardin Fretum57.3°N 317.8°W / 57.3; -317.8 (Hardin Fretum) 246Salvor Hardin, fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, first Mayor of the planet Terminus.
Seldon Fretum66°N 316.6°W / 66; -316.6 (Seldon Fretum) 67Hari Seldon, the fictional, intellectual hero of Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, First Minister of the Galactic Empire. 'Throat of Kraken'[13]
Trevize Fretum74.4°N 269.9°W / 74.4; -269.9 (Trevize Fretum) 173Golan Trevize, fictional character in Isaac Asimov's Foundation Series, councilman of the planet Terminus.

Insulae

Insulae are islands within Titan's seas. They are named after legendary islands.[14]

InsulaCoordinatesLiquid bodyNamed after
Bermoothes Insula67.1°N 317.1°W / 67.1; -317.1 (Bermoothes Insula)Kraken MareBermoothes, an enchanted island in Shakespeare's Tempest
Bimini Insula73.3°N 305.4°W / 73.3; -305.4 (Bimini Insula)Kraken MareBimini, island in Arawak legend said to contain the fountain of youth.
Bralgu Insula76.2°N 251.5°W / 76.2; -251.5 (Bralgu Insula)Ligeia MareBaralku, in Yolngu culture, the island of the dead and the place where the Djanggawul, the three creator siblings, originated.
Buyan Insula77.3°N 245.1°W / 77.3; -245.1 (Buyan Insula)Ligeia MareBuyan, a rocky island in Russian folk tales located on the south shore of Baltic Sea
Hufaidh Insulae67°N 320.3°W / 67; -320.3 (Hufaidh Insulae)Kraken MareHufaidh, legendary island in the marshes of southern Iraq
Krocylea Insulae69.1°N 302.4°W / 69.1; -302.4 (Kocylea Insulae)Kraken MareCrocylea, mythological Greek island in the Ionian Sea, near Ithaca
Mayda Insula79.1°N 312.2°W / 79.1; -312.2 (Mayda Insula)Kraken MareMayda, legendary island in the northeast Atlantic
Penglai Insula72.2°N 308.7°W / 72.2; -308.7 (Penglai Insula)Kraken MarePenglai, mythological Chinese mountain island where immortals and gods lived.
Planctae Insulae77.5°N 251.3°W / 77.5; -251.3 (Planctae Insulae)Ligeia MareSymplegades, the "clashing rocks" in Bosphorus which only Argo was said to have successfully passed.
Royllo Insula68.3°N 297.2°W / 68.3; -297.2 (Royllo Insula)Kraken MareRoyllo, legendary island in the Atlantic, on verge of unknown, near Antilla and Saint Brandan.

Labyrinthi

Labyrinthi (complexes of intersecting valleys or ridges)[15] on Titan are named after planets from the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert.[16][17]

LabyrinthusCoordinatesNamed after
Anbus Labyrinthus39.2°N 215°W / 39.2; -215 (Anbus Labyrinthus) Anbus
Corrin Labyrinthus 66.0°S 31°W / -66.0; -31 (Corrin Labyrinthus) Corrin
Ecaz Labyrinthus83.0°S 36.7°W / -83.0; -36.7 (Ecaz Labyrinthus)Ecaz[18]
Gammu Labyrinthus 77.9°S 250°W / -77.9; -250 (Gammu Labyrinthus) Gammu
Gamont Labyrinthus56.8°N 75°W / 56.8; -75 (Gamont Labyrinthus) Gamont
Gansireed Labyrinthus 69.3°S 239.3°W / -69.3; -239.3 (Gansireed Labyrinthus) Gansireed
Ginaz Labyrinthus 83°N 261.7°W / 83; -261.7 (Ginaz Labyrinthus)Ginaz
Grumann Labyrinthus 69.3°S 239.3°W / -69.3; -239.3 (Grumann Labyrinthus) Grumann
Harmonthep Labyrinthus 72.3°S 101.4°W / -72.3; -101.4 (Harmonthep Labyrinthus) Harmonthep
Junction Labyrinthus 47.7°S 215.3°W / -47.7; -215.3 (Junction Labyrinthus) Junction
Kaitain Labyrinthus52.37°N 348.66°W / 52.37; -348.66 (Kaitain Labyrinthus)Kaitain[19]
Kronin Labyrinthus 35.7°S 96.27°W / -35.7; -96.27 (Kronin Labyrinthus) Kronin
Lampadas Labyrinthus 81.8°S 124°W / -81.8; -124 (Lampadas Labyrinthus) Lampadas
Lankiveil Labyrinthus 48.2°S 149.5°W / -48.2; -149.5 (Lankiveil Labyrinthus) Lankiveil
Lernaeus Labyrinthus 83.4°S 138°W / -83.4; -138 (Lernaues Labyrinthus) Lernaeus
Muritan Labyrinthus 68.8°S 219.2°W / -68.8; -219.2 (Muritan Labyrinthus) Muritan
Naraj Labyrinthus 74.2°S 35.8°W / -74.2; -35.8 (Naraj Labyrinthus) Naraj
Niushe Labyrinthus 75.1°N 88.1°W / 75.1; -88.1 (Niushe Labyrinthus) Niushe
Palma Labyrinthus 72.4°S 31°W / -72.4; -31 (Palma Labyrinthus) Palma
Richese Labyrinthus 41.8°N 199.0°W / 41.8; -199.0 (Richese Labyrinthus) Richese[20]
Salusa Labyrinthus 45.6°N 264.2°W / 45.6; -264.2 (Salusa Labyrinthus) Salusa
Sikun Labyrinthus 77.9°S 28.9°W / -77.9; -28.9 (Sikun Labyrinthus) Sikun[21]
Tleilax Labyrinthus 48°S 16°W Tleilax
Tupile Labyrinthus 80.5°S 32.2°W / -80.5; -32.2 (Tupile Labyrinthus) Tupile[22]

Lacunae

Lacunae are dark areas with the appearance of dry lake beds, which are named after intermittent lakes on Earth.[23]

LacunaeCoordinates Length (km)Named after
Atacama Lacuna 68.2°N 227.6°W / 68.2; -227.6 (Atacama Lacuna) 35.9 Salar de Atacama, intermittent lake in Chile
Eyre Lacuna72.6°N 225.1°W / 72.6; -225.1 (Eyre Lacuna) 25.4It is named after Lake Eyre, an intermittent lake in Australia.[24]
Jerid Lacuna66.7°N 221°W / 66.7; -221 (Jerid Lacuna) 42.6Chott el Djerid, intermittent lake in Tunisia
Kutch Lacuna88.4°N 217°W / 88.4; -217 (Kutch Lacuna) 175Great Rann of Kutch, intermittent lake on Pakistani-Indian border
Melrhir Lacuna 64.9°N 212.6°W / 64.9; -212.6 (Melrhir Lacuna) 23 Chott Melrhir, intermittent lake in Algeria
Nakuru Lacuna 65.81°N 94°W / 65.81; -94 (Nakuru Lacuna) 188 Lake Nakuru, intermittent lake in Kenya
Ngami Lacuna 66.7°N 213.9°W / 66.7; -213.9 (Ngami Lacuna) 37.2 It is named after Lake Ngami, in Botswana,[25] and like its terrestrial namesake is considered to be endorheic.
Racetrack Lacuna 66.1°N 224.9°W / 66.1; -224.9 (Racetrack Lacuna) 9.9 Racetrack Playa, intermittent lake in California, USA
Uyuni Lacuna 66.3°N 228.4°W / 66.3; -228.4 (Uyuni Lacuna) 27 Salar de Uyuni, intermittent lake and world's largest salt flat in Bolivia
Veliko Lacuna 76.8°S 33.1°W / -76.8; -33.1 (Veliko Lacuna) 93 Veliko Lake, intermittent lake in Bosnia-Herzegovina
Woytchugga Lacuna 68.88°N 109.0°W / 68.88; -109.0 (Woytchugga Lacuna) 449 Indications are that it is an intermittent lake and so was named in 2013 after Lake Woytchugga near Wilcannia, Australia.[26][27]

Lacūs

Lakes of liquid methane on Titan. View from Bolsena Lacus (lower right) to Mackay Lacus (upper left).

Lacūs (plural form of lacus used in Titan geological nomenclature) are hydrocarbon lakes.[28]

Large ringed features

Large ring features are named after deities of wisdom in world mythology.[29]

Ring featureCoordinatesNamed after
Guabonito10.9°S 150.8°W / -10.9; -150.8 (Guabonito)Guabonito, Taíno sea goddess
Nath30.5°S 7.7°W / -30.5; -7.7 (Nath)Irish goddess of wisdom
Paxsi5.0°N 341.2°W / 5.0; -341.2 (Paxsi)Aymara goddess of the moon and wisdom
Veles2.0°N 137.3°W / 2.0; -137.3 (Veles)Veles, Slavic god

Maculae

Titanean maculae (dark spots) are named after deities of happiness, peace, and harmony in world mythology.[30]

MaculaCoordinatesNamed after
Eir Macula24.0°S 114.7°W / -24.0; -114.7 (Eir Macula)Eir, Norse goddess.
Elpis Macula31.2°N 27.0°W / 31.2; -27.0 (Elpis Macula)Elpis, Greek god
Ganesa Macula50.0°N 87.3°W / 50.0; -87.3 (Ganesa Macula)Ganesa, Hindu god
Genetaska Macula23.5°N 196.3°W / 23.5; -196.3 (Genetaska Macula)Genetaska, Peace Queen of the Iroquois
Omacatl Macula17.6°N 37.2°W / 17.6; -37.2 (Omacatl Macula)Omacatl, Aztec god.
Polaznik Macula41.1°S 280.4°W / -41.1; -280.4 (Polaznik Macula)Polaznik, Slavic god
Polelya Macula50.0°N 56.0°W / 50.0; -56.0 (Polelya Macula)Polelya, Slavic god

Maria

Maria (plural of mare) are hydrocarbon seas.[31]

Montes

Mountains are named after mountains from the fictional Middle-Earth created by J.R.R. Tolkien.[32]

MonsCoordinatesNamed after
Angmar Montes10.0°S 221.0°W / -10.0; -221.0 (Angmar Montes)Mountains of Angmar
Dolmed Montes11.6°S 216.8°W / -11.6; -216.8 (Dolmed Montes)Mount Dolmed
Doom Mons14.65°S 40.42°W / -14.65; -40.42 (Doom Mons)Mount Doom
Echoriat Montes7.4°S 213.8°W / -7.4; -213.8 (Echoriat Montes)Echoriath
Erebor Mons4.97°S 36.23°W / -4.97; -36.23 (Erebor Mons)Erebor, the Lonely Mountain
Gram Montes9.9°S 207.9°W / -9.9; -207.9 (Gram Montes)Mount Gram
Irensaga Montes5.68°S 212.71°W / -5.68; -212.71 (Irensaga Montes)Irensaga
Merlock Montes8.9°S 211.8°W / -8.9; -211.8 (Merlock Montes)Merlock Mountains
Mindolluin Montes3.3°S 208.96°W / -3.3; -208.96 (Mindolluin Montes)Mindolluin
Misty Montes56.8°N 62.44°W / 56.8; -62.44 (Misty Montes)Misty Mountains
Mithrim Montes2.16°S 127.42°W / -2.16; -127.42 (Mithrim Montes)Mountains of Mithrim
Moria Montes15.1°N 190.5°W / 15.1; -190.5 (Moria Montes)Mountains of Moria
Rerir Montes4.8°S 212.1°W / -4.8; -212.1 (Rerir Montes)Mount Rerir
Taniquetil Montes3.67°S 213.26°W / -3.67; -213.26 (Taniquetil Montes)Taniquetil

Planitiae

Planitiae (low plains) on Titan are named after planets from the fictional Dune universe created by Frank Herbert.[16][33]

PlanitiaCoordinatesNamed after
Arrakis Planitia78.4°S 117.0°W / -78.4; -117.0 (Arrakis Planitia)Arrakis[34]
Buzzell Planitia66.3°S 262.7°W / -66.3; -262.7 (Buzzell Planitia)Buzzell
Caladan Planitia31.0°N 226.0°W / 31.0; -226.0 (Caladan Planitia)Caladan[35]
Chusuk Planitia5.0°S 23.5°W / -5.0; -23.5 (Chusuk Planitia)Chusuk[36]
Giedi Planitia 5.22°N 357.02°W / 5.22; -357.02 (Giedi Planitia) Giedi[37]
Hagal Planitia60.6°S 345.0°W / -60.6; -345.0 (Hagal Planitia)Hagal[38]
Poritrin Planitia48.0°N 24.0°W / 48.0; -24.0 (Poritrin Planitia)Poritrin[39]
Romo Planitia82.8°S 201.0°W / -82.8; -201.0 (Romo Planitia)Romo[40]
Rossak Planitia71.0°S 355°W / -71.0; -355 (Rossak Planitia)Rossak[41]

Regiones

Regiones (regions distinctly different from their surroundings) are named after deities of peace and happiness.[42]

RegioCoordinatesNamed after
Concordia Regio20.0°S 241.0°W / -20.0; -241.0 (Concordia Regio)Concordia, the Roman goddess of divinity and harmony
Hetpet Regio22.0°S 292.0°W / -22.0; -292.0 (Hetpet Regio)Hetpet, the Egyptian personification of happiness
Hotei Regio26.0°S 78.0°W / -26.0; -78.0 (Hotei Regio)Budai, Chinese/Japanese god
Ochumare Regio 10.4°N 348.1°W / 10.4; -348.1 (Ochumare Regio) Ochumare, Puertan Rican goddess of happiness and weather
Tui Regio24.5°S 124.9°W / -24.5; -124.9 (Tui Regio)Tui, Chinese goddess.

Sinūs

Sinus (bays) within seas or lakes are named after terrestrial bays, coves, fjords or inlets.[43]

NameCoordinatesLiquid bodyLength (km)[note 1]Source of name
Arnar Sinus72.6°N 322°W / 72.6; -322 (Arnar Sinus)Kraken Mare101Arnar, fjord in Iceland
Avacha Sinus 82.87°N 335.43°W / 82.87; -335.43 (Avacha Sinus) Punga Mare 51 Avacha Bay in Kamchatka, Russia
Baffin Sinus 80.35°N 344.62°W / 80.35; -344.62 (Baffin Sinus) Kraken Mare 110 Baffin Bay between Canada and Greenland
Boni Sinus 78.69°N 345.38°W / 78.69; -345.38 (Boni Sinus) Kraken Mare 54 Gulf of Boni in Indonesia
Dingle Sinus 81.36°N 336.44°W / 81.36; -336.44 (Dingle Sinus) Kraken Mare 80 Dingle Bay in Ireland
Flensborg Sinus64.9°N 295.3°W / 64.9; -295.3 (Flensborg Sinus)Kraken Mare115Flensburg Firth, fjord between Denmark and Germany
Fundy Sinus 83.26°N 315.64°W / 83.26; -315.64 (Fundy Sinus) Punga Mare 91 Bay of Fundy in Canada that hosts the world's largest tides[44]
Gabes Sinus67.6°N 289.6°W / 67.6; -289.6 (Gabes Sinus)Kraken Mare147Gabes, or Syrtis minor, a bay in Tunisia
Genova Sinus 80.11°N 326.61°W / 80.11; -326.61 (Genova Sinus) Kraken Mare 125 Gulf of Genoa in Italy
Kumbaru Sinus56.8°N 303.8°W / 56.8; -303.8 (Kumbaru Sinus)Kraken Mare122Bay in India
Lulworth Sinus 67.19°N 316.88°W / 67.19; -316.88 (Lulworth Sinus) Kraken Mare 24 Lulworth Cove in southern England
Maizuru Sinus 78.9°N 352.53°W / 78.9; -352.53 (Maizuru Sinus) Kraken Mare 92 Maizuru Bay in Japan
Manza Sinus 79.29°N 346.1°W / 79.29; -346.1 (Manza Sinus) Kraken Mare 37 Manza Bay in Tanzania
Moray Sinus76.6°N 281.4°W / 76.6; -281.4 (Moray Sinus)Kraken Mare204Moray Firth in Scotland
Nicoya Sinus74.8°N 251.2°W / 74.8; -251.2 (Nicoya Sinus)Ligeia Mare130Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica
Okahu Sinus73.7°N 282°W / 73.7; -282 (Okahu Sinus)Kraken Mare141Okahu Bay near Auckland, New Zealand
Patos Sinus77.2°N 224.8°W / 77.2; -224.8 (Patos Sinus)Ligeia Mare103Patos, fjord in Chile
Puget Sinus82.4°N 241.1°W / 82.4; -241.1 (Puget Sinus)Ligeia Mare93Puget Sound in Washington, United States
Rombaken Sinus75.3°N 232.9°W / 75.3; -232.9 (Rombaken Sinus)Ligeia Mare92.5Rombaken, fjord in Norway
Skelton Sinus76.8°N 314.9°W / 76.8; -314.9 (Skelton Sinus)Kraken Mare73Skelton Glacier near Ross Sea, Antarctica
Trold Sinus71.3°N 292.7°W / 71.3; -292.7 (Trold Sinus)Kraken Mare118Trold Fiord Formation in Nunavut, Canada
Tunu Sinus79.2°N 299.8°W / 79.2; -299.8 (Tunu Sinus)Kraken Mare134Tunu, fjord in Greenland
Wakasa Sinus80.7°N 270°W / 80.7; -270 (Wakasa Sinus)Ligeia Mare146Wakasa Bay in Japan
Walvis Sinus58.2°N 324.1°W / 58.2; -324.1 (Walvis Sinus)Kraken Mare253Walvis Bay in Namibia

Terrae

Terrae are extensive landmasses. As with the albedo features, they are named after sacred and enchanted locations from cultures across the world.[45]

TerraCoordinatesNamed after
Garotman Terra13.5°S 348.0°W / -13.5; -348.0 (Garotman Terra)Garotman, the Iranian paradise that the souls of faithful men inhabit
Tollan Terra6.4°N 322.7°W / 6.4; -322.7 (Tollan Terra)Tollan, the Aztec paradise where crops never wilt
Tsiipiya Terra 2.83°N 340.12°W / 2.83; -340.12 (Tsiipiya Terra) Tsiipiya, the Hopi name for Mount Taylor in New Mexico, USA
Yalaing Terra19.5°S 324.0°W / -19.5; -324.0 (Yalaing Terra)Yalaing, the Australian spirit land for good souls with clean water and game

Undae

Undae are dune fields. On Titan they are named after Greek deities of wind.[46]

UndaeCoordinatesDiameter (km)Named after
Aura Undae13.79°N 226.86°W / 13.79; -226.86 (Aura Undae)490Aura, Titanis goddess of the morning wind.
Boreas Undae6°S 215°W260Boreas, Greek god of the north wind.
Eurus Undae7.5°S 210.3°W / -7.5; -210.3 (Eurus Undae)220Eurus, Greek personification of the east wind.
Notus Undae10°S 211.1°W / -10; -211.1 (Notus Undae)530Notus, Greek god of the south or southwest wind.
Zephyrus Undae8.5°S 217.1°W / -8.5; -217.1 (Zephyrus Undae)130Zephyrus, Greek personification of the gentle west wind.

Virgae

Virgae (streaks of colour) are named after rain gods in world mythologies.[47]

VirgaCoordinatesNamed after
Bacab Virgae19.0°S 151.0°W / -19.0; -151.0 (Bacab Virgae)Bacab, Mayan rain god
Hobal Virga35.0°S 166.0°W / -35.0; -166.0 (Hobal Virga)Hobal, Arabian rain god.
Kalseru Virga36.0°S 137.0°W / -36.0; -137.0 (Kalseru Virga)Kalseru, Australian Aborigine rain god.
Perkunas Virgae27.0°S 162.0°W / -27.0; -162.0 (Perkunas Virgae)Perkūnas, Lithuanian supreme god
Shiwanni Virgae25.0°S 32.0°W / -25.0; -32.0 (Shiwanni Virgae)Shiwanni, Zuni rain god
Tishtrya Virgae23.8°N 179.8°W / 23.8; -179.8 (Tishtrya Virgae)Tishtrya, Persian rain god
Tlaloc Virgae23.7°N 207.7°W / 23.7; -207.7 (Tlaloc Virgae)Tlaloc, Aztec rain god
Uanui Virgae45.2°N 235.3°W / 45.2; -235.3 (Uanui Virgae)Uanui, Māori rain god

Informal names for previously unnamed features

Because the exact nature of many surface features remain mysterious, a number of features took time to receive formal names and are known by nicknames. In most cases, indications of brightness and darkness refer not to visible light, but to the infrared images used to look through Titan's obscuring haze.[48]

  • 'The Sickle': a large, dark, sickle-shaped region identified by the Hubble Space Telescope.
  • 'Throat of Kraken': unofficial name for the strait that separates the north and south basins of Kraken Mare, before officially being named Seldon Fretum. It was used in early publications that hypothesized about its role with tidal dissipation and surface currents between the two basins of Kraken Mare.[13][49]

See also

Notes

  1. The USGS web site gives size as a "diameter", but it is actually the length in the longest dimension.

References

  1. "Titan Features". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  2. Overbye, Dennis (3 December 2019). "Go Ahead, Take a Spin on Titan - Saturn's biggest moon has gasoline for rain, soot for snow and a subsurface ocean of ammonia. Now there's a map to help guide the search for possible life there". The New York Times. Retrieved 5 December 2019.
  3. "Titan albedo features". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  4. "Melanesian Mythology | Encyclopedia.com". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  5. "Titan arcus". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  6. "Titan Colles". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  7. "Titan craters". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  8. "Titan facula, faculae". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  9. "Titan fluctus". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  10. "Titan river, rivers". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  11. "Mythological Journey to the Aztec Underworld | WilderUtopia.com". wilderutopia.com. 2018-10-10. Retrieved 2020-03-15.
  12. "Titan fretum". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  13. Lorenz, Ralph D.; Kirk, Randolph L.; Hayes, Alexander G.; Anderson, Yanhua Z.; Lunine, Jonathan I.; Tokano, Tetsuya; Turtle, Elizabeth P.; Malaska, Michael J.; Soderblom, Jason M.; Lucas, Antoine; Karatekin, Özgür (2014-07-15). "A radar map of Titan Seas: Tidal dissipation and ocean mixing through the throat of Kraken". Icarus. 237: 9–15. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2014.04.005. ISSN 0019-1035.
  14. "Titan islands". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  15. Greeley, Ronald (2013). Introduction to Planetary Geomorphology. Cambridge University Press. p. 32. ISBN 978-0-521-86711-5.
  16. Blue, Jennifer (August 4, 2009). "Hot Topics: New Name, Descriptor Term, and Theme Approved for Use on Titan". USGS Astrogeology. Archived from the original on November 1, 2014. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  17. "Titan Labyrinthi". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved October 25, 2020.
  18. "Ecaz Labyrinthus". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  19. "Kaitain Labyrinthus". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  20. "Richese Labyrinthus". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  21. "Sikun Labyrinthus". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. January 6, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  22. "Tupile Labyrinthus". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.
  23. "Titan Lacunae". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved June 26, 2015.
  24. "Eyre Lacuna". USGS planetary nomenclature page. USGS. Retrieved 2019-12-30. External link in |work= (help)
  25. "Ngami Lacuna". USGS planetary nomenclature page. USGS. Retrieved 2019-12-30. External link in |work= (help)
  26. "Woytchugga Lacuna". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. International Astronomical Union (IAU). 3 December 2013. Retrieved 14 January 2016.
  27. "Woytchugga Lacuna". USGS planetary nomenclature page. USGS. Retrieved 2019-12-30. External link in |work= (help)
  28. "Titan lakes". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  29. "Titan large ringed feature". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  30. "Titan macula, maculae". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  31. "Titan mare, maria". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  32. "Titan Mons, Montes". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved October 27, 2015.
  33. "Titan Planitiae". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  34. "Arrakis Planitia". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. April 5, 2010. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  35. "Caladan Planitia". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  36. "Chusuk Planitia". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. August 4, 2009. Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  37. "Giedi Planitia". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  38. "Hagal Planitia". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.
  39. "Poritrin Planitia". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. October 8, 2014. Retrieved January 3, 2015.
  40. "Romo Planitia". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.
  41. "Rossak Planitia". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature.
  42. "Titan regio, regiones". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  43. "Titan sinus (bays)". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  44. Garrett, Christopher (August 1972). "Tidal Resonance in the Bay of Fundy and Gulf of Maine". Nature. 238 (5365): 441–443. doi:10.1038/238441a0. ISSN 1476-4687.
  45. "Titan terra, terrae". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  46. "Titan unde, undae". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  47. "Titan virga, virgae". USGS Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Retrieved 14 March 2020.
  48. 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 (2005-10-07). "A 5-Micron-Bright Spot on Titan: Evidence for Surface Diversity". Science. 310 (5745): 92–95. doi:10.1126/science.1117075. ISSN 0036-8075. PMID 16210535.
  49. Tokano, Tetsuya; Lorenz, Ralph D.; Van Hoolst, Tim (2014-11-01). "Numerical simulation of tides and oceanic angular momentum of Titan's hydrocarbon seas". Icarus. 242: 188–201. doi:10.1016/j.icarus.2014.08.021. ISSN 0019-1035.
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