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Half-Moons Rising
The Cassini probe snapped a wide-angle picture that shows the moon Mimas in relative close proximity to the spectacular rings. Later Tuesday, Cassini will fly within about 1000 kilometers (~600 miles) of the largest moon Titan.
The Cassini probe snapped a wide-angle picture that shows the moon Mimas in relative close proximity to the spectacular rings. Later Tuesday, Cassini will fly within about 1000 kilometers (~600 miles) of the largest moon Titan.
Tethys
The Cassini spacecraft in orbit around Saturn caught a glimpse of Tethys, a cratered, icy moon. Notable for Tethys are its split fissure and enormous crater, both of which leave the impression that its fragile surface is remaking itself slowly.
The Cassini spacecraft in orbit around Saturn caught a glimpse of Tethys, a cratered, icy moon. Notable for Tethys are its split fissure and enormous crater, both of which leave the impression that its fragile surface is remaking itself slowly.
Saturn's Family Portrait
The Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn takes a wide-angle view of the ringed planet's extended moon system. These mostly icy moons have highly reflective, bright surfaces and tend to smooth over many impact scars when their frozen veneers heal.
The Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn takes a wide-angle view of the ringed planet's extended moon system. These mostly icy moons have highly reflective, bright surfaces and tend to smooth over many impact scars when their frozen veneers heal.
Saturn's New F-ring Shepherd?
In the solar system, the second most populous satellite tally is Saturn's. Before the Cassini mission, thirty-one moons were known--a number that has changed since the successful orbital insertion of the spacecraft.
In the solar system, the second most populous satellite tally is Saturn's. Before the Cassini mission, thirty-one moons were known--a number that has changed since the successful orbital insertion of the spacecraft.
Death Star Lookalike
Saturn's satellite, Mimas, can be imaged from afar and imagined up close, but its striking resemblance to the fictional Death Star from Star Wars gives the most dramatic view of its violent past.
Saturn's satellite, Mimas, can be imaged from afar and imagined up close, but its striking resemblance to the fictional Death Star from Star Wars gives the most dramatic view of its violent past.
Saturn Yields Two New Moons
To add to its system of 31 moons, Saturn may have many smaller moons only visible with the sharp vision of the Cassini spacecraft. Two candidate moons have been identified that are likely captured comets.
To add to its system of 31 moons, Saturn may have many smaller moons only visible with the sharp vision of the Cassini spacecraft. Two candidate moons have been identified that are likely captured comets.
Tiny Moon is No Space Station
Cassini's tour of Saturn's remarkable system of 31 moons has taken the probe past one of the ringed planet's natural wonders: Mimas. The 250 mile wide satellite suffered a catastrophic impact that opened a wound one third of its diameter and nearly split the moon in half. Today, Mimas bears a striking resemblance to the Star Wars' Death Star, which wrecked havoc on planets using its laser-focusing dish. In place of the laser dish, Mimas carries a crater peak the size of Mount Everest.
Cassini's tour of Saturn's remarkable system of 31 moons has taken the probe past one of the ringed planet's natural wonders: Mimas. The 250 mile wide satellite suffered a catastrophic impact that opened a wound one third of its diameter and nearly split the moon in half. Today, Mimas bears a striking resemblance to the Star Wars' Death Star, which wrecked havoc on planets using its laser-focusing dish. In place of the laser dish, Mimas carries a crater peak the size of Mount Everest.
Iapetus, the Sybill Moon
A first glance at Iapetus, one of Saturn's most unusual moons, reveals what seems to be a half-moon. But in this case, the dark and light boundary is not defined by shadows but instead is real: half the moon is made of deep black material and the other half is intensely bright.
A first glance at Iapetus, one of Saturn's most unusual moons, reveals what seems to be a half-moon. But in this case, the dark and light boundary is not defined by shadows but instead is real: half the moon is made of deep black material and the other half is intensely bright.
Saturn's Line of Sight
After a weeklong transit when the Sun blocked much transmission from Saturn, the Cassini spacecraft has sent back closeup views of the south pole and four of the moons in bright sunlight.
After a weeklong transit when the Sun blocked much transmission from Saturn, the Cassini spacecraft has sent back closeup views of the south pole and four of the moons in bright sunlight.
Moons Sublime to Saturn's Magnetosphere
The magnetic field that wraps around Saturn is full of particles captured from the planet's icy moons. Since this magnetic trap is populated mainly with hydrogen and oxygen, the likely source is Saturn's icy satellites and not the giant moon, Titan, which is compositionally dominated by nitrogen.
The magnetic field that wraps around Saturn is full of particles captured from the planet's icy moons. Since this magnetic trap is populated mainly with hydrogen and oxygen, the likely source is Saturn's icy satellites and not the giant moon, Titan, which is compositionally dominated by nitrogen.