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Saturns moon Tethys
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Saturns moon Tethys
June 29, 2007 - The cold, cratered landscape of Saturns moon Tethys shines in stark relief in this crescent view.
Aside from its obvious aesthetic beauty, this particular Cassini mosaic was obtained mainly to understand important details about how the surface of Tethys (1, 071 kilometers, or 665 miles across) reflects light at high phase angles (the sun-Tethys-spacecraft viewing angle). The beautiful interplay of light with surface topographic features is an important factor in this regard. The surface is heavily cratered, and at this oblique angle the craters give the surface a highly scalloped appearance.
Unlike some high-resolution crescent views of Saturns moons, this image truly gives Tethys the appearance of being composed of ice and frost. There appear to be numerous sun glints sparkling across the surface. Some of these might be specular (or mirror-like) reflections off of exposed walls of solid ice inside craters, or they might be uniformly large, frosty or icy-particle covered facets of topography that are so oriented as to give exceptionally bright but diffuse reflections.
The shadows cast by most craters in the scene are not dark, but rather, they are illuminated by light bouncing off of their sunlit walls and those of other craters. This light, which has been scattered multiple times, makes visible some details along the shadowed walls and floors of craters that would not otherwise be visible in this viewing geometry
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Black And White Crater Crescent Crescent Moon Crust Dark Darkness Deposit Frost Geography Illuminated Impact Impact Craters Land Feature Landform Light Luminous Lunar Moon Mosaic Ridge Rift Saturn Shadow South Pole Surface Terrain Texture Topography Trough Tethys View From Space
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This stunning print captures the ethereal beauty of Saturn's moon Tethys, showcasing its cold and cratered landscape in exquisite detail. Taken by the Cassini spacecraft on June 29,2007, this crescent view provides valuable insights into how Tethys reflects light at high phase angles. The surface of Tethys appears heavily cratered, giving it a uniquely scalloped appearance when viewed from this oblique angle. What sets this image apart is its ability to truly depict Tethys as an icy world adorned with frost. The surface seems to shimmer with numerous sun glints, which could be mirror-like reflections off exposed walls of solid ice within craters or large facets covered in icy particles that scatter light diffusely. Interestingly, the shadows cast by most craters are not dark but rather illuminated by multiple scattered bounces of sunlight. This phenomenon unveils hidden details along the shadowed walls and floors of craters that would otherwise remain invisible from this viewing geometry. Beyond its aesthetic allure, this mosaic serves a scientific purpose – unraveling crucial information about Tethys' topography and light interaction. By studying these intricate interplays between light and surface features, scientists can gain deeper insights into the composition and geological history of Saturn's enigmatic moon. (Photo credit: Stocktrek Images)
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