topography Archives - Astrobiology

Schematic representation of extreme environments across the Indian subcontinent and the Indian Ocean that serve as planetary analogues. Terrestrial ecosystems include mud volcanoes, saline habitats, desert sandstorms, glaciers, ophiolites, geothermal springs, high-altitude lakes, and natural caves and mines. Marine ecosystems of the Indian Ocean remain relatively underexplored, with documented sites including deep-sea hydrothermal vents and subsurface trenches. This figure is adapted and inspired by Merino et al. (2019).617618619620

Analog Studies, Arctic / Antarctic / Alpine, Away Teams & Field Reports, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Exploration Gear & Tech, Extremeophiles and Extreme Environments, Habitable Zones, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Polar / Alpine Expeditions, Status Report, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Planetary Analog Sites In The Indian Subcontinent And The Indian Ocean: Underexplored Environments Suited For Astrobiological And Space Research

by Keith CowingOctober 5, 2025October 5, 2025

The central objective of astrobiology is to evaluate the habitability of other planetary bodies and given the high cost and logistical complexity of space missions, preliminary investigations of planetary analog […]

The largest of the four seamounts recently discovered by Schmidt Ocean Institute experts is 2,681 meters tall, covers 450 square kilometers, and sits 1,150 meters below the surface. It was discovered during a mapping transit from Costa Rica to Chile in January 2024. -- Schmidt Ocean Institute

Away Teams & Field Reports, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Press Release, ROVs/Submersibles/Diving, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

Water World Exploration: Four New Seamounts Discovered On Earth

by Keith CowingJune 1, 2024June 1, 2024

The crew of Schmidt Ocean Institute’s research vessel Falkor (too) discovered four underwater mountains — the tallest of which is over 1.5 miles high — on a January transit from […]

This computer-generated 3D model of Venus’ surface shows the volcano Sif Mons, which is exhibiting signs of ongoing activity. Using data from NASA’s Magellan mission, Italian researchers detected evidence of an eruption while the spacecraft orbited the planet in the early 1990s. Credit: NASA/JPL

Astrogeology, Atmospheres, Climate, Weather, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Biosignatures & Paleobiology, Caves, Craters, Mountains, Subsurface, Lava Tubes, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Lava / magma ocean / Volcanic Worlds, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Missions & Hardware, Status Report, Venus

Ongoing Venus Volcanic Activity Discovered With NASA’s Magellan Data

by Keith CowingMay 31, 2024May 31, 2024

Direct geological evidence of recent volcanic activity on Venus has been observed for a second time. Scientists in Italy analyzed archival data from NASA’s Magellan mission to reveal surface changes […]

Mollweide map projection of new topographic map of Enceladus. Colors are used to show topographic range, with reds being high and blues being low. Enceladus’ global triaxial figure has been subtracted to bring out the features shown. Credit: Paul Schenk/USRA-Lunar and Planetary Institute.

Enceladus, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release, Stellar Cartography, Water/Hycean Worlds & Oceanography

New Global Topographic Map Unveils Unique Distortions On Enceladus

by Keith CowingOctober 21, 2023February 16, 2024

A team of scientists has produced the first complete and comprehensive global topographic map of Saturn’s active icy moon Enceladus, revealing that it is even more distorted than previously thought. […]

Top: Stereographic polar projections of Titan's topography with the South Pole left and the North Pole right. Bottom: Same as above, but for a global equicylindrical projection. Regions of data used in the interpolation are overplotted in grey. The maximum global relief is on the scale of ~2km, but typical local variations in elevation are more like ~200m - similar to the size of the hills in Ithaca. The topography shows large scale basins, as well as local highs, such as mountains. Understanding Titan's topography can play a role in understanding internal structure, hydrologic processes, and potential influences in Titan's general circulation.

Astrogeology, Biogeochemical Cycles & Geobiology, Exploration Gear & Tech, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release, Titan

New Titan Topographic Map

by Keith CowingJanuary 17, 2018June 13, 2024

Using the now-complete Cassini data set, Cornell University astronomers have created a new global topographic map of Saturn’s moon Titan that has opened new windows into understanding its liquid flows […]

Map of Ceres -- NASA

Ceres, Cryobiology, Icy Worlds, Imaging & Spectroscopy, Mapping, Geodesy, Cartography, Bathymetry, Press Release

Dawn Team Shares New Maps and Insights about Ceres

by Keith CowingSeptember 15, 2015June 13, 2024

Mysteries and insights about Ceres are being discussed this week at the European Planetary Science Conference in Nantes, France.