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Triton - False Color of 'Cantaloupe' Terrain

Jet Propulsion Laboratory https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/ Sept. 26, 1996
This image of the south polar terrain of Triton, taken NASA's Voyager 2 on Aug. 25, 1989 reveals about 50 dark plumes or 'wind streaks' on the icy surface.

Voyager violet, green, and ultraviolet images of Triton were map projected into cylindrical coordinates and combined to produce this false color terrain map. Several compositionally distinct terrain and geologic features are portrayed. At center is a gray blue unit referred to as 'cantaloupe' terrain because of its unusual topographic texture. The unit appears to predate other units to the left. Immediately adjacent to the cantaloupe terrain, is a smoother unit, represented by a reddish color, that has been dissected by a prominent fault system. This unit apparently overlies a much higher albedo material, seen farther left. A prominent angular albedo boundary separates relatively undisturbed smooth terrain from irregular patches which have been derived from breakup of the same material. Also visible at the far left are diffuse, elongated streaks, which seem to emanate from circular, often bright centered features. The parallel streaks may represent vented particulate materials blown in the same direction by winds in Triton's thin atmosphere. The Voyager Mission is conducted by JPL for NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications.

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Target
  • Triton
Spacecraft
  • Voyager 2
Instrument
  • VG Imaging Science Subsystem - Narrow Angle
Credit
NASA/JPL

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