voy2_v_c_o_TPMBK (P-34764, Voyager 2-N77)
“Voyager 2 obtained this high-resolution color image of Neptune's large satellite Triton during its close flyby on Aug. 25, 1989. Approximately a dozen individual images were combined to produce this comprehensive view of the Neptune-facing hemisphere of Triton. Fine detail is provided by high-resolution, clear-filter images, with color information added from lower-resolution frames. The large south polar cap at the bottom of the image is highly reflective and slightly pink in color; it may consist of
a slowly evaporating layer of nitrogen ice deposited during the previous winter. From the ragged edge of the polar cap northward the satellite's face is generally darker and redder in color. This coloring may be produced by the action of ultraviolet light and magnetospheric radiation upon methane in the atmosphere and surface. Running across this darker region, approximately parallel to the edge of the polar cap, is a band of brighter white material that is almost bluish in color. The underlying topography in this bright band is similar, however, to that in the darker, redder regions surrounding it. The Voyager Mission is conducted by JPL for NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications.”
Also:
“Voyager 2 image showing the southern hemisphere of Triton. At 2,700 km diameter, Triton is Neptune's largest satellite. This image was made using about a dozen Voyager 2 frames. The large, pinkish colored south polar cap is at the bottom of the image. North of the cap the surface is generally darker and redder in color. This area exhibits a plethora of unusual morphologic features, including the long lineations at the center of the frame.”
With the image, from/at:
nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/html/object_page/vg2_p34764.html
Credit: NSSDCA website
And:
“Voyager 2 passed by Triton about 5 hours after skimming within 5000 kilometers (3000 miles) of the cloud tops of Neptune. Triton is only slightly smaller than Earth’s Moon and is one of the most unusual objects encountered during all the Voyager planetary flybys. This image is a digital mosaic of 12 individual images, with color information added from lower-resolution frames. The large south polar cap at the bottom of the image is a slowly evaporating layer of frozen nitrogen. The dark streaks on the polar cap are probably deposits resulting from the expulsion of frozen nitrogen that suddenly changed to the vapor phase, essentially a nitrogen eruption. Voyager data showed that Triton is extremely cold (daytime temperature of 37 K, or –400°F), extremely bright (reflecting nearly 100% of the sunlight incident upon it), and has a very tenuous atmosphere of nitrogen and methane (with a surface pressure 10 millionths of Earth’s atmosphere at sea level). The darker, slightly redder color beyond the polar cap may result from radiation effects on methane included within the ice. The ridges and depressions visible away from the polar cap are probably due to the deformation of water ice. Triton is essentially the same size and density as Pluto so it is possible that the surface of Pluto may look somewhat like Triton, but Pluto remains the only planet not yet visited by a spacecraft.
Mosaic of Voyager 2 images (Press Release P-34764).”
Also with the image, from/at:
www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/slidesets/ss_tour/slide_38....
Credit: LPI website
voy2_v_c_o_TPMBK (P-34764, Voyager 2-N77)
“Voyager 2 obtained this high-resolution color image of Neptune's large satellite Triton during its close flyby on Aug. 25, 1989. Approximately a dozen individual images were combined to produce this comprehensive view of the Neptune-facing hemisphere of Triton. Fine detail is provided by high-resolution, clear-filter images, with color information added from lower-resolution frames. The large south polar cap at the bottom of the image is highly reflective and slightly pink in color; it may consist of
a slowly evaporating layer of nitrogen ice deposited during the previous winter. From the ragged edge of the polar cap northward the satellite's face is generally darker and redder in color. This coloring may be produced by the action of ultraviolet light and magnetospheric radiation upon methane in the atmosphere and surface. Running across this darker region, approximately parallel to the edge of the polar cap, is a band of brighter white material that is almost bluish in color. The underlying topography in this bright band is similar, however, to that in the darker, redder regions surrounding it. The Voyager Mission is conducted by JPL for NASA's Office of Space Science and Applications.”
Also:
“Voyager 2 image showing the southern hemisphere of Triton. At 2,700 km diameter, Triton is Neptune's largest satellite. This image was made using about a dozen Voyager 2 frames. The large, pinkish colored south polar cap is at the bottom of the image. North of the cap the surface is generally darker and redder in color. This area exhibits a plethora of unusual morphologic features, including the long lineations at the center of the frame.”
With the image, from/at:
nssdc.gsfc.nasa.gov/imgcat/html/object_page/vg2_p34764.html
Credit: NSSDCA website
And:
“Voyager 2 passed by Triton about 5 hours after skimming within 5000 kilometers (3000 miles) of the cloud tops of Neptune. Triton is only slightly smaller than Earth’s Moon and is one of the most unusual objects encountered during all the Voyager planetary flybys. This image is a digital mosaic of 12 individual images, with color information added from lower-resolution frames. The large south polar cap at the bottom of the image is a slowly evaporating layer of frozen nitrogen. The dark streaks on the polar cap are probably deposits resulting from the expulsion of frozen nitrogen that suddenly changed to the vapor phase, essentially a nitrogen eruption. Voyager data showed that Triton is extremely cold (daytime temperature of 37 K, or –400°F), extremely bright (reflecting nearly 100% of the sunlight incident upon it), and has a very tenuous atmosphere of nitrogen and methane (with a surface pressure 10 millionths of Earth’s atmosphere at sea level). The darker, slightly redder color beyond the polar cap may result from radiation effects on methane included within the ice. The ridges and depressions visible away from the polar cap are probably due to the deformation of water ice. Triton is essentially the same size and density as Pluto so it is possible that the surface of Pluto may look somewhat like Triton, but Pluto remains the only planet not yet visited by a spacecraft.
Mosaic of Voyager 2 images (Press Release P-34764).”
Also with the image, from/at:
www.lpi.usra.edu/publications/slidesets/ss_tour/slide_38....
Credit: LPI website