Mimas in Saturnlight
Explanation:
Peering from the shadows, the
Saturn-facing hemisphere of Mimas lies in near darkness alongside a
dramatic sunlit crescent.
The mosaic was captured near the Cassini
spacecraft's final
close approach on January 30, 2017.
Cassini's camera was pointed in a
nearly sunward direction only 45,000 kilometers from Mimas.
The result is one of the highest resolution views of the icy, crater-pocked,
400
kilometer diameter moon.
An enhanced version better reveals the Saturn-facing hemisphere of
the synchronously rotating moon lit by sunlight reflected from
Saturn itself.
To see it, slide your cursor over the image (or
follow this link).
Other Cassini images of Mimas include the small moon's large and ominous
Herschel Crater.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
