Definition
Irregular surface regions on Rhea several kilometers across with a characteristic enhancement in the ultraviolet, arranged along or near the equator.
Category
A type of Equatorial feature.
Description
This feature is a very narrow, discontinuous linear track of discrete bluish features (splotches) extending along at least 270° along the equator of Rhea (Schenk et al. 2011) (Figs. 1 and 2). These features have no significant albedo signature at most longitudes but have a distinct color signature characterized by a bluish spectral slope between 0.3 and 1.0 μm, relative to surrounding terrains. Portions of the great circle on the trailing hemisphere are dark with no coloration, however. Although some small craters can be identified, most of the splotches lack definitive geologic features and appear to be “painted” on the surface. The splotches are 50–100 km apart and form exclusively on the highest standing...
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Reference
Schenk P, Hamilton DP, Johnson RE, McKinnon WB, Paranicas C, Schmist J, Showalter MR (2011) Plasma, plumes and rings: Saturn system dynamics as recorded in global color patterns on its midsize icy satellites. Icarus 211:740–757
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Schenk, P.M. (2014). Equatorial Great Circle (Rhea). In: Encyclopedia of Planetary Landforms. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_117-1
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4614-9213-9_117-1
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Publisher Name: Springer, New York, NY
Online ISBN: 978-1-4614-9213-9
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