A full-disk Titan view reveals secrets about the new mountainous discoveries and how they tie into Titan's past. Researchers believe the large, bright circular feature above center is the scar of an ancient impact basin. The prominent, long, dark feature above the impact scar may have resulted from tectonic activity caused by energy released by this impact - the same process that created the newly discovered mountains. This scenario begins to provide researchers with a potential global story for the geographical history of Titan, something that is just now emerging from the moon's cloudy past.
NASA/JPL/University of Arizona