Erebor Mons
A probable cryovolcano and one of Titan's highest mountains.
Erebor Mons is a mountain on Saturn's largest moon, Titan. Located near the equator in the western part of the Quivira region, its center is at 4.97°S 36.23°W, lying between 4–5° south and 35–36° west. The feature spans 40 kilometers across and rises more than 1 kilometer high. Lobate flow features extend to its north and east, suggesting it is likely a cryovolcano. About 470 kilometers to the north-northeast lies a larger cryovolcanic structure, Doom Mons. Although Erebor Mons is among Titan's highest known mountains, it is difficult to spot in radar or infrared images. It was only identified after stereoscopic radar data enabled the creation of an elevation map, and it was imaged by the Cassini radar on February 22 and April 10, 2007. The mountain is named after Erebor, the "Lonely Mountain" from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth, most famously featured in *The Hobbit*. This follows the convention of naming Titanian mountains after Tolkien's peaks. The name was officially announced on November 13, 2012.
- Location
- Near Titan's equator, between 4–5° south and 35–36° west, centered on 4.97°S 36.23°W, in the western part of Quivira region
- Size
- 40 km across, more than 1 km high
- Type
- Probably a cryovolcano
- Discovery method
- Stereoscopic radar data
- Imaging dates
- 22 February and 10 April 2007
- Naming source
- Erebor, the 'Lonely Mountain' from J. R. R. Tolkien's Middle-earth
- Name announcement date
- November 13, 2012
Lore & Background
Erebor Mons is located near Titan's equator, centered at 4.97°S 36.23°W, in the western part of the Quivira region. It is 40 km across and more than 1 km high, with lobate flow features to its north and east, suggesting it is probably a cryovolcano. It lies about 470 km to the north-northeast of a larger cryovolcanic construct, Doom Mons.
Despite being one of the highest known mountains on Titan, Erebor Mons is not readily discernible on radar or infrared images. It was discovered only when stereoscopic radar data allowed the construction of an elevation map. It was imaged by the Cassini radar on 22 February and 10 April 2007.
The mountain is named after Erebor, the 'Lonely Mountain' that appears in J. R. R. Tolkien's fictional world of Middle-earth, most prominently in The Hobbit. The name follows a convention that Titanean mountains are named after mountains in Tolkien's work. The name was formally announced on November 13, 2012.
Reader's Guide
Erebor Mons holds significance as one of the highest known mountains on Titan, yet its discovery required stereoscopic radar data because it is not readily visible on radar or infrared images. This highlights the challenges of observing Titan's surface through its thick atmosphere. Its lobate flow features and proximity to Doom Mons support the interpretation that it is probably a cryovolcano, contributing to understanding of Titan's geologic activity. The naming convention—mountains on Titan are named after mountains in J. R. R. Tolkien's work—places Erebor Mons within a thematic framework that links Saturn's moon to Middle-earth. The mountain's formal name announcement on November 13, 2012, and its imaging by Cassini radar in 2007, mark key milestones in its recognition. Its legacy lies in demonstrating how advanced data processing can reveal subtle topographic features, and in providing evidence for cryovolcanism on Titan, a process that may shape the moon's surface and atmosphere.
Did You Know?
- It was discovered only through stereoscopic radar data, not visible on radar or infrared images.
- It is located about 470 km north-northeast of Doom Mons, another cryovolcanic construct.
More in Moons of Saturn, Part 2 1-24
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