Arwen Colles

Arwen Colles: radar image by Cassini. Thin dark streaks around are dunes.

Arwen Colles is an area of small hills on Titan, the largest moon of the planet Saturn. The hills are located near Titan's equator at 7°30′S 260°00′W / 7.5°S 260°W / -7.5; -260Coordinates: 7°30′S 260°00′W / 7.5°S 260°W / -7.5; -260[1] within the Belet region.[2]

Arwen Colles is named after Arwen Undómiel, an Elvish princess in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Middle Earth who appears most prominently in The Lord of the Rings.[1] The name follows a convention that Titanean colles (hills or small knobs) are named after characters in Tolkien's work.[3] It was formally announced on December 19, 2012.[4]

References

  1. 1 2 International Astronomical Union. "Arwen Colles". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Accessed Dec 29, 2012.
  2. ↑ "Titan with VIMS background and RADAR strips". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Accessed Dec 29, 2012.
  3. ↑ International Astronomical Union. "Categories for Naming Features on Planets and Satellites". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. Accessed Nov 14, 2012.
  4. ↑ Jennifer Blue, "Names for Five Colles and One Patera on Titan". USGS Astrologeology Science Center. Dec 19, 2012.
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