Why it matters

Turgis helps move the Saturn branch beyond Mimas and show the diversity of icy moons.

What happenedA large crater on Iapetus, interesting against the moon's strong contrast between bright and dark terrains.
Why it mattersTurgis helps move the Saturn branch beyond Mimas and show the diversity of icy moons.
How scientists knowGazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature; NASA Image and Video Library

Measurements and uncertainty

Diamètre580 km
Depthnot listed
Ageancient large crater
StatutConfirmé
Coordinates16.900° N / 28.400° W
Record levelminimal

Seed record: coordinates and diameter support navigation, while geology, age, and visual rights need enrichment.

Profil scientifique

The profile fixes the scientific baseline: size, position, and the need for a future visual layer based on Cassini data.

Data provenanceGazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature; NASA Image and Video Library

Galerie de reconstruction

Davantage de lectures visuelles du cratère

Si l'image vérifiée ne suffit pas, la fiche reçoit une reconstruction scientifique : non pas de la fantaisie à la place du fait, mais une hypothèse visuelle séparée des sources.

Palette du mondeicy turquoise, deep space, and distant moons
Scientific reconstruction: crater on Iapetus's high-contrast terrain.
Aperçu visuel actuelPlaque de base : source, matériau orbital ou planche éditoriale où commence la lecture visuelle.
Reverse reconstructionmoving from the present trace back to the impact event
Chronological inversionreading the object from future state back through earlier layers
The present as an archive of the futuretreating today's profile as evidence for future analysis

Visual reconstruction

Reverse reconstruction → Chronological inversion → Bidirectional analysis → The present as an archive of the future

Chaque fiche doit avoir un aperçu visuel : image existante, source traitée esthétiquement ou reconstruction scientifique.

Reverse reconstructionmoving from the present trace back to the impact event
Chronological inversionreading the object from future state back through earlier layers
Bidirectional analysischecking past-to-present and present-to-past interpretations
The present as an archive of the futuretreating today's profile as evidence for future analysis

Historique de recherche

The name was adopted by the IAU in 2008 and refers to a character from the Song of Roland.

Sources

CSVJSONTurgis on Iapetus. Crater.world record. Last reviewed 2026-05-08.
Last reviewed
2026-05-08
Source baseline
Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature; NASA Image and Video Library
Uncertainty note
Seed record: coordinates and diameter support navigation, while geology, age, and visual rights need enrichment.
Gazetteer of Planetary NomenclatureInternational Astronomical Union / USGSNASA Image and Video LibraryNASA

Education mode

Faits

  • Official diameter: about 580 km.
  • Iapetus is famous for its bright-dark surface contrast.
  • The object fits future Cassini-based comparison features.
Glossaryejecta, impact melt, breccia, central peak, erosion
Classroom questionWhich evidence separates an impact crater from a volcanic caldera?
CompareOccator