DESCRIPTION AND
DATA SHEET

Aeneas Region
Dione, Saturn

This Voyager 2 stereo image shows a large portion of Saturn's small icy satellite Dione. Although somewhat similar in appearance to Rhea, Dione has had a more complex geologic history than Rhea.

Heavily cratered terrains (right) are the oldest surfaces on Dione. These surfaces resemble Rhea. This terrain is crossed by a network of bright lineaments, a few of which are visible at upper right. These appear to be extensional fractures formed when the interior of Dione expanded by a few percent, stretching and fracturing the outer crust.

Areas of relatively smooth and lightly cratered plains occur to the east (left in this view) of the cratered plains. These plains have apparently been covered by lava flows, although some impact craters have also formed on this terrain. The composition of these flows is not known, but they may have been composed of water or ammonia-water mixtures. Enceladus, an even smaller satellite of Saturn, has been even more heavily resurfaced by icy lava flows. These flows may be composed of ammonia-water mixtures.

Location:
     24.0 S, 15.6 W
Mission:
     Voyager 1
Image Numbers:
     34944.58, 34948.28
Image Resolution
(Full-Sized View):
     1267 meters/pixel
Image Width:
     ~800 kilometers
Vertical Exaggeration:
     5.0 × Normal
Vertical Resolution:
     336 meters
Spacecraft Altitude:
     161,800 kilometers
Convergence Angle:
     56°