Samarkand Sulci
Encyclopedia
Samarkand Sulci is a region of grooved terrain on the surface of Saturn
's moon Enceladus
. The feature is centered at 30.5° North Latitude
, 326.8° West Longitude
and is approximately 383 kilometers long. Samarkand Sulci consists of three parts. The southern and eastern extensions bound Sarandib Planitia
on its western and northern sides, respectively. The northern portions extends into a region of cratered terrain.
Using Voyager 2
images, Kargel and Pozio (1996) found that the northern and southern/eastern extensions of this feature are likely distinct features with different origins and ages. The portions surrounding Sarandib Planitia were characterized as sinuous "mountainous ridges" 1-1.5 km in height, and lying within relative topographic lows. Kargel and Pozio (1996) suggested that they might be fold belts
, similar to North America
's Appalachian Mountains
. The northern portion of Samarkand Sulci was found to consist of linear fracture
s, suggesting that rather than a compressional fold belt, the northern part of Samarkand Sulci may in fact be an extensional rift
. Based on analysis of crater counts in both areas of Samarkand Sulci, Kargel and Pozio (1996) suggested that the rift formed before the ridges.
Recent images by the Cassini spacecraft show portions of Samarkand Sulci at much higher resolution than in the Voyager 2 images. Numerous parallel ridges are resolved in the southern and eastern extensions of the feature, though some ridges appear chevron shaped. Just as Kargel and Pozio (1996) found parts of this feature lying within topographic lows, sharp scarps bound the ridge belts in several regions. On the far eastern tip of Samarkand Sulci, these scarps begin to converge as the ridge belts disappear, forming narrow canyons. Northern Samarkand Sulci was also observed. This region appears unconsolidated with several craters, like Ahmad
and Peri-Banu
, appearing to be cross-cut or even flooded by this portion of Samarkand Sulci.
Near the southern end of Samarkand Sulci, curious dark patches, 500-750 m across were observed lying along ridge crests. It is possible these spots may be collapse pits.
Samarkand Sulci is named after the country ruled over by Shah Zaman, brother of Shahryar, in Arabian Nights
.
Saturn
Saturn is the sixth planet from the Sun and the second largest planet in the Solar System, after Jupiter. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn, equated to the Greek Cronus , the Babylonian Ninurta and the Hindu Shani. Saturn's astronomical symbol represents the Roman god's sickle.Saturn,...
's moon Enceladus
Enceladus (moon)
Enceladus is the sixth-largest of the moons of Saturn. It was discovered in 1789 by William Herschel. Until the two Voyager spacecraft passed near it in the early 1980s very little was known about this small moon besides the identification of water ice on its surface...
. The feature is centered at 30.5° North Latitude
Latitude
In geography, the latitude of a location on the Earth is the angular distance of that location south or north of the Equator. The latitude is an angle, and is usually measured in degrees . The equator has a latitude of 0°, the North pole has a latitude of 90° north , and the South pole has a...
, 326.8° West Longitude
Longitude
Longitude is a geographic coordinate that specifies the east-west position of a point on the Earth's surface. It is an angular measurement, usually expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds, and denoted by the Greek letter lambda ....
and is approximately 383 kilometers long. Samarkand Sulci consists of three parts. The southern and eastern extensions bound Sarandib Planitia
Sarandib Planitia
Sarandib Planitia is a region of relatively un-cratered terrain on Saturn's moon Enceladus. It is located at 4.4° North Latitude, 298.0° West Longitude and is approximately 200 km across...
on its western and northern sides, respectively. The northern portions extends into a region of cratered terrain.
Using Voyager 2
Voyager 2
The Voyager 2 spacecraft is a 722-kilogram space probe launched by NASA on August 20, 1977 to study the outer Solar System and eventually interstellar space...
images, Kargel and Pozio (1996) found that the northern and southern/eastern extensions of this feature are likely distinct features with different origins and ages. The portions surrounding Sarandib Planitia were characterized as sinuous "mountainous ridges" 1-1.5 km in height, and lying within relative topographic lows. Kargel and Pozio (1996) suggested that they might be fold belts
Fold (geology)
The term fold is used in geology when one or a stack of originally flat and planar surfaces, such as sedimentary strata, are bent or curved as a result of permanent deformation. Synsedimentary folds are those due to slumping of sedimentary material before it is lithified. Folds in rocks vary in...
, similar to North America
North America
North America is a continent wholly within the Northern Hemisphere and almost wholly within the Western Hemisphere. It is also considered a northern subcontinent of the Americas...
's Appalachian Mountains
Appalachian Mountains
The Appalachian Mountains #Whether the stressed vowel is or ,#Whether the "ch" is pronounced as a fricative or an affricate , and#Whether the final vowel is the monophthong or the diphthong .), often called the Appalachians, are a system of mountains in eastern North America. The Appalachians...
. The northern portion of Samarkand Sulci was found to consist of linear fracture
Fracture
A fracture is the separation of an object or material into two, or more, pieces under the action of stress.The word fracture is often applied to bones of living creatures , or to crystals or crystalline materials, such as gemstones or metal...
s, suggesting that rather than a compressional fold belt, the northern part of Samarkand Sulci may in fact be an extensional rift
Rift
In geology, a rift or chasm is a place where the Earth's crust and lithosphere are being pulled apart and is an example of extensional tectonics....
. Based on analysis of crater counts in both areas of Samarkand Sulci, Kargel and Pozio (1996) suggested that the rift formed before the ridges.
Recent images by the Cassini spacecraft show portions of Samarkand Sulci at much higher resolution than in the Voyager 2 images. Numerous parallel ridges are resolved in the southern and eastern extensions of the feature, though some ridges appear chevron shaped. Just as Kargel and Pozio (1996) found parts of this feature lying within topographic lows, sharp scarps bound the ridge belts in several regions. On the far eastern tip of Samarkand Sulci, these scarps begin to converge as the ridge belts disappear, forming narrow canyons. Northern Samarkand Sulci was also observed. This region appears unconsolidated with several craters, like Ahmad
Ahmad (crater)
Ahmad is a crater in the northern hemisphere of Saturn's moon Enceladus. Ahmad was first discovered in Voyager 2 images but was seen at much higher resolution, though near the terminator, by Cassini. It is located at 57.4° North Latitude, 305.4° West Longitude and is 16 kilometers across...
and Peri-Banu
Peri-Banu (crater)
Peri-Banu is a crater in the northern hemisphere of Saturn's moon Enceladus. Peri-Banu was first discovered in Voyager 2 images but was seen at much higher resolution, though near the terminator, by Cassini. It is located at 63.1° North Latitude, 317.9° West Longitude and is 16 kilometers across...
, appearing to be cross-cut or even flooded by this portion of Samarkand Sulci.
Near the southern end of Samarkand Sulci, curious dark patches, 500-750 m across were observed lying along ridge crests. It is possible these spots may be collapse pits.
Samarkand Sulci is named after the country ruled over by Shah Zaman, brother of Shahryar, in Arabian Nights
The Book of One Thousand and One Nights
One Thousand and One Nights is a collection of Middle Eastern and South Asian stories and folk tales compiled in Arabic during the Islamic Golden Age...
.