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Mysterious Linear Features Across Saturn's Moon Dione
Author(s) -
Martin Emily S.,
Patthoff D. Alex
Publication year - 2018
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 - 10.1029/2018gl079819
Subject(s) - saturn , geology , terrain , astrobiology , rings of saturn , physics , astronomy , geography , planet , cartography
Our mapping of the wispy terrains on Saturn's moons Dione has revealed unique linear features that are generally long (tens to hundreds of kilometers), narrow (<5 km), and brighter than the surrounding terrains. We refer to these features as linear virgae . Similar features, with a limited distribution, have been observed on Rhea. Wherever linear virgae are observed, they appear to crosscut all other structures suggesting that they are among the youngest features on these satellites. Here we seek to constrain whether the linear virgae are endogenic, suggesting that the surface of Dione has been geologically active recently or if they are exogenic, suggesting a recent, or even ongoing, process in the Saturn system. We favor an exogenic mechanism for the formation of linear virgae on Dione by the emplacement of material across the surface by low‐velocity impacts of material sourced from Saturn's rings, co‐orbital moons, or encountering planetocentric debris.