Image Captures Saturn's Two Moons Together
- 11 years ago
NASA recently captured a photo depicting Saturn’s two moons called Mimas and Pandora. The moons are pictured in close proximity to one another, however there are vast differences when it comes to size and appearance.
NASA is behind some of the world’s most iconic images. While us earthlings are used to just one moon, NASA recently captured a photo depicting two of Saturn’s moons called Mimas and Pandora.
The two moons are pictured in close proximity to one another, however there are vast differences when it comes to size and appearance. The photo was taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.
Pandora's small size is reflective of the fact that the moon lacks enough gravity to pull itself into a perfectly circular shape like like its much larger counterpart, Mimas. Scientists believe the odd shape of Pandora might reveal evidence into how other moons near Saturn’s rings formed.
The image caught the hemisphere of Mimas, which was pointed away from Saturn. While Mimas measures 246 miles across, the smaller moon spans 50 miles across. Pandora can be seen directly underneath Mimas, showcasing the drastic size difference.
The shot was taken when the spacecraft was about 690,000 miles away from Mimas and approximately 731,000 miles from Pandora. A narrow-angle camera on Cassini captured the photo in blue light.
NASA is behind some of the world’s most iconic images. While us earthlings are used to just one moon, NASA recently captured a photo depicting two of Saturn’s moons called Mimas and Pandora.
The two moons are pictured in close proximity to one another, however there are vast differences when it comes to size and appearance. The photo was taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft.
Pandora's small size is reflective of the fact that the moon lacks enough gravity to pull itself into a perfectly circular shape like like its much larger counterpart, Mimas. Scientists believe the odd shape of Pandora might reveal evidence into how other moons near Saturn’s rings formed.
The image caught the hemisphere of Mimas, which was pointed away from Saturn. While Mimas measures 246 miles across, the smaller moon spans 50 miles across. Pandora can be seen directly underneath Mimas, showcasing the drastic size difference.
The shot was taken when the spacecraft was about 690,000 miles away from Mimas and approximately 731,000 miles from Pandora. A narrow-angle camera on Cassini captured the photo in blue light.