PIA01538: Complex Geologic History of Triton

Target Name: Triton Is a satellite of: Neptune Mission: Voyager Spacecraft: Voyager 2 Product Size: 1885 samples x 1903 lines Produced By: JPL Producer ID: P34692 Addition Date: 1999-05-08 Primary Data Set: Voyager EDRs Full-Res TIFF: PIA01538.tif (3.034 MB) Full-Res JPEG: PIA01538.jpg (462.2 kB)

Original Caption Released with Image: Part of the complex geologic history of icy Triton, Neptune's largest satellite, is shown in this Voyager 2 photo, which has a resolution of 900 meters (2,700 feet) per picture element. The photo was received as part of a Triton-mapping sequence between 3:30 and 5:30 a.m. (PDT). This view is about 500 kilometers (300 miles) across. It encompasses two depressions, possibly old impact basins, that have been extensively modified by flooding, melting, faulting, and collapse. Several episodes of filling and partial removal of material appear to have occurred. The rough area in the middle of the bottom depression probably marks the most recent eruption of material. Only a few impact craters dot the area, which shows the dominance of internally driven geologic processes on Triton. JPL manages the Voyager project for NASA's Office of Space Science. Image Credit: NASA/JPL