A search for spectral units on the Uranian satellites using color ratio imagesTwenty multispectral sets of calibrated coregistered Voyager 2 images of the Uranian satellites are analyzed in order to identify spectrally distinct surface units and associate these units with specific endogenic or exogenic surface processes. Several regions on each satellite where significant spectral/compositional diversity could be expected were identified by morphologic unit mapping. All the Uranian satellites were found to exhibit some degree of spectral variability associated with bright impact craters, with the typical trend being that the bright craters and their associated ejecta deposits are less red than the remainder of the satellites by 5 to 30 percent. Oberon shows the greatest variability, followed by Titania and Ariel. Morphologic features on Miranda and Ariel possibly associated with endogenic processes such as tectonism or ice volcanism do not exhibit as high a degree of spectral variability relative to their surroundings as bright impact craters.
Document ID
19910057741
Acquisition Source
Legacy CDMS
Document Type
Conference Paper
Authors
Bell, J. F., III (Hawaii Univ. Honolulu, HI, United States)
Mccord, T. B. (Hawaii, University Honolulu, United States)