Two Views of Saturn's Moon, Phoebe
The Cassini-Huygens mission to Saturn is revealing inspiring, if eerie, images of Saturn's small outer moon.
Early images returned from the first detailed reconnaissance of the outer moon, Phoebe, show breathtaking details in the moon's pockmarked surface that already have imaging scientists puzzling over the body's history. The images are only a preview of what to expect from the high resolution images to be examined later today which will show details about 10 times smaller.
In the first image (at left) in which Phoebe looks somewhat like a sideways skull, the large crater near the bottom displays a complex and rugged interior. The lower right hand part of Phoebe appears to be covered by bright wispy material.
The second, higher resolution image further reveals the moon's battered surface, including a crater near the right hand edge with bright rays that extend outward from its center.
As Spock would say, "Fascinating."
-Tim
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