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Science 13 May 2005:
Vol. 308. no. 5724, pp. 970 - 974
DOI: 10.1126/science.1109919
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Reports

Cassini Radar Views the Surface of Titan

C. Elachi,1 S. Wall,1* M. Allison,2 Y. Anderson,1 R. Boehmer,1 P. Callahan,1 P. Encrenaz,3 E. Flamini,4 G. Franceschetti,5 Y. Gim,1 G. Hamilton,1 S. Hensley,1 M. Janssen,1 W. Johnson,1 K. Kelleher,1 R. Kirk,6 R. Lopes,1 R. Lorenz,7 J. Lunine,7 D. Muhleman,8 S. Ostro,1 F. Paganelli,1 G. Picardi,9 F. Posa,10 L. Roth,1 R. Seu,9 S. Shaffer,1 L. Soderblom,6 B. Stiles,1 E. Stofan,11 S. Vetrella,5 R. West,1 C. Wood,12 L. Wye,13 H. Zebker13

The Cassini Titan Radar Mapper imaged about 1% of Titan's surface at a resolution of ~0.5 kilometer, and larger areas of the globe in lower resolution modes. The images reveal a complex surface, with areas of low relief and a variety of geologic features suggestive of dome-like volcanic constructs, flows, and sinuous channels. The surface appears to be young, with few impact craters. Scattering and dielectric properties are consistent with porous ice or organics. Dark patches in the radar images show high brightness temperatures and high emissivity and are consistent with frozen hydrocarbons.

1 Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109, USA.
2 Goddard Institute for Space Studies, National Aeronautics and Space Administration, New York, NY 10025, USA.
3 l'Observatoire de Paris, 75014 Paris, France.
4 Agenzia Spaziale Italiana, 00198 Rome, Italy.
5 Facoltá di Ingegneria, 80125 Naples, Italy.
6 U.S. Geological Survey, Flagstaff, AZ 86001, USA.
7 Lunar and Planetary Laboratory, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA.
8 Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
9 Universitá La Sapienza, 00184 Rome, Italy.
10 INFM and Dipartimento Interateneo di Fisica, Politecnico di Bari, 70126 Bari, Italy.
11 Proxemy Research, Laytonsville, MD 20882, USA.
12 Planetary Science Institute, Tucson, AZ 85719, USA.
13 Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA.

* To whom correspondence should be addressed. E-mail: steve.wall{at}jpl.nasa.gov

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