APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

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APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by APOD Robot » Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:05 am

Image 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.

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Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by XgeoX » Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:12 am

That is one giant golfball!
This image is a repeat yes?

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hanochbernath

Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by hanochbernath » Fri Jul 30, 2021 12:14 pm

cursor doesn't work. just a mini view o display, doesn't rotate.
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Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by orin stepanek » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:11 pm

MimasPIA17213_1024.jpg
Little moon with the big Herschel crater! :shock:
I take it is lit by reflected light off of Saturn! Second hand light! :mrgreen:
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Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by De58te » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:55 pm

orin stepanek wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:11 pm MimasPIA17213_1024.jpg
Little moon with the big Herschel crater! :shock:
I take it is lit by reflected light off of Saturn! Second hand light! :mrgreen:
Yes I believe so. The title Mimas in Saturnlight is probably meant the same as seeing by Moonlight, even though the Moon doesn't produce its own light. It is reflected light from the Sun. This is opposed to the meaning of producing its own light as in streetlights, lamp light, flashlight, and candle light. Oh, and sunlight.
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Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by rstevenson » Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:58 pm

hanochbernath wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 12:14 pm cursor doesn't work. just a mini view o display, doesn't rotate.
The moon won't rotate when you click and drag your cursor. It's not supposed to. Sliding your cursor over the image will show the enhanced Saturn-lit view (in a well behaved browser); without the cursor over the image you see the unenhanced view.

Rob
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Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by rstevenson » Fri Jul 30, 2021 2:01 pm

orin stepanek wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 1:11 pm ...
I take it is lit by reflected light off of Saturn! Second hand light! :mrgreen:
Yes. The description says "An enhanced version better reveals the ... moon lit by sunlight reflected from Saturn itself." (I deconvoluted the sentence structure.)

Rob (who enjoys deconvoluting the writing of others more than his own)
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Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by bystander » Fri Jul 30, 2021 2:31 pm

XgeoX wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 5:12 am
This image is a repeat yes?

Yes

APOD: 2019 August 3 - Mimas in Saturnlight
discuss_apod.php?date=190803

APOD: 2017 March 16 - Mimas in Saturnlight
discuss_apod.php?date=170316
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Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by Sa Ji Tario » Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:01 pm

APOD repeats 17% of the images and comments
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Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by Chris Peterson » Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:15 pm

Sa Ji Tario wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 3:01 pm APOD repeats 17% of the images and comments
By design, Sunday APODs are repeats (14%). Repeats on other days are unusual. I guess that happens when something unexpected pops up that takes the editors' time.
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Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by VictorBorun » Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:46 pm

Is it just the scattered lighting or is the Saturn's side of Mimas a low land with a steep borderline ?
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Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by johnnydeep » Fri Jul 30, 2021 7:06 pm

VictorBorun wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:46 pm Is it just the scattered lighting or is the Saturn's side of Mimas a low land with a steep borderline ?
Looks like an optical illusion to me. The upper edge of Mimas shows no sign of any ridge around the moon that I can see, unlike, say, Iapetus:

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Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by alter-ego » Sat Jul 31, 2021 4:48 am

johnnydeep wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 7:06 pm
VictorBorun wrote: ↑Fri Jul 30, 2021 4:46 pm Is it just the scattered lighting or is the Saturn's side of Mimas a low land with a steep borderline ?
Looks like an optical illusion to me. The upper edge of Mimas shows no sign of any ridge around the moon that I can see, unlike, say, Iapetus:

Yup, as far as I know, Mimas has no global ridge like Iapetus, at least like the unique walnut-shell ridge in the image.
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Re: APOD: Mimas in Saturnlight (2021 Jul 30)

Post by starsurfer » Sat Jul 31, 2021 10:32 pm

This moon now always reminds me of the WR 16 nebula.
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