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Specular reflection on Titan: Liquids in Kraken Mare
Author(s) -
Stephan Katrin,
Jaumann Ralf,
Brown Robert H.,
Soderblom Jason M.,
Soderblom Laurence A.,
Barnes Jason W.,
Sotin Christophe,
Griffith Caitlin A.,
Kirk Randolph L.,
Baines Kevin H.,
Buratti Bonnie J.,
Clark Roger N.,
Lytle Dyer M.,
Nelson Robert M.,
Nicholson Phillip D.
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
geophysical research letters
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.007
H-Index - 273
eISSN - 1944-8007
pISSN - 0094-8276
DOI - 10.1029/2009gl042312
Subject(s) - titan (rocket family) , specular reflection , astrobiology , geology , polar , spacecraft , astronomy , physics , optics
After more than 50 close flybys of Titan by the Cassini spacecraft, it has become evident that features similar in morphology to terrestrial lakes and seas exist in Titan's polar regions. As Titan progresses into northern spring, the much more numerous and larger lakes and seas in the north‐polar region suggested by Cassini RADAR data, are becoming directly illuminated for the first time since the arrival of the Cassini spacecraft. This allows the Cassini optical instruments to search for specular reflections to provide further confirmation that liquids are present in these evident lakes. On July 8, 2009 Cassini VIMS detected a specular reflection in the north‐polar region of Titan associated with Kraken Mare, one of Titan's large, presumed seas, indicating the lake's surface is smooth and free of scatterers with respect to the wavelength of 5 μ m, where VIMS detected the specular signal, strongly suggesting it is liquid.