Photograph Description

Mosaic of Voyager 2 images of Triton, the largest moon of Neptune. The surface shows a great variety of features. The large south polar cap (top) is thought to consist of a slowly- evaporating layer of nitrogen ice, deposited during the previous winter. Below this is a region which has been dubbed the “cantaloupe” terrain. Small dimples with upraised rims and shallow central depressions dot the area. Long fractures cross the region and extend into the polar cap. A band of terrain on the border of the polar cap has a light covering of frost. In the lower left of the image are smooth plains which may indicate recent outflows onto the surface. (Photo by Science Photo Library)