 NASA / JPL / GSFC / SwRI / SSI |
The left image shows a visible-light image of Mimas, a Saturnian moon that has been nicknamed the Death Star because of its “Star Wars” look. The right image adds a false-color overlay of temperature data, which makes Mimas look more like “Pac-Man” in mid-munch. Click on the picture for a larger version. |
The Cassini orbiter has gotten its closest look yet at Saturn’s moon Mimas, which is nicknamed the “Death Star” because of its curious crater. The fresh imagery has generated new curiosities and yet another nickname for Mimas: the “Pac-Man” moon.
“After much deliberation, we have concluded: Mimas is not boring. Who knew?!” Cassini imaging team leader Carolyn Porco said in an e-mail announcing today’s image release.
Linda Spilker, the Cassini project scientist at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, agreed: “Other moons usually grab the spotlight, but it turns out Mimas is more bizarre than we thought it was,” she observed in an image advisory. “It has certainly given us some new puzzles.”
…(read more)