Evidence from Voyager II photometry for early resurfacing of Umbriel (original) (raw)

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• Published: 23 March 1989

Nature volume 338, pages 324–326 (1989)Cite this article

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Abstract

THE uranian satellite UmbriePs dark, heavily cratered surface is remarkable for its apparent uniformity in Voyager II images1. Its most conspicuous geological feature is a comparatively high-albedo, annulus-shaped deposit which covers the floor of the 40-km diameter crater Wunda1. Here we present new Voyager II albedo maps of Umbriel which reveal that its surface is subdivided into low-contrast, crudely polygonal areas ranging in size from tens to hundreds of kilometres (Fig. 1). The largest polygons are elongate with systematically trending northeast–southwest boundaries. Some of the polygonal areas form topographic depressions several kilometres in depth. We suggest that this newly discovered global albedo pattern is a relic of the early tectonic disruption of Umbriel's surface.

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Authors and Affiliations

1. Center for Radio-physics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, 14853-6801, USA
   Paul Helfenstein, Peter C. Thomas & Joseph Veverka

Authors

1. Paul Helfenstein
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2. Peter C. Thomas
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3. Joseph Veverka
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Helfenstein, P., Thomas, P. & Veverka, J. Evidence from Voyager II photometry for early resurfacing of Umbriel.Nature 338, 324–326 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1038/338324a0

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• Received: 14 November 1988
• Accepted: 01 February 1989
• Issue Date: 23 March 1989
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/338324a0

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