This mosaic of Mimas, the smallest and innermost of Saturn’s main moons, was constructed from images taken by the narrow-angle camera onboard NASA’s Cassini orbiter on Jan. 30, 2017, during its final close approach to the icy moon.
This mosaic image taken by the Cassini spacecraft is one of the highest resolution views ever obtained of Mimas. Image credit: NASA / JPL-Caltech / Space Science Institute.
Mimas was discovered on Sept. 17, 1789 by the English astronomer William Herschel and named for one of the Giants of Greek mythology.
Also known as Saturn I, Mimas is approximately 246 miles (396 km) across.
Along with Enceladus, Tethys, Dione and Rhea, it is classified as a mid-sized icy moon; the origin of these moons is still being debated.
Mimas revolves around Saturn in a prograde, near-circular orbit at a mean distance of about 117,000 miles (189,000 km).
Because of tidal interactions with Saturn, the moon rotates synchronously with its orbital motion, always keeping the same hemisphere toward the planet and always leading with the same hemisphere in orbit.
Mimas’ surface is pockmarked with countless craters, the largest of which gives the icy moon its distinctive appearance.
Cassini made its final close approach to Mimas on January 30, 2017.
NASA’s imaging scientists combined 10 narrow-angle camera images to create this mosaic view.
The scene is an orthographic projection centered on terrain at 17.5 degrees south latitude, 325.4 degrees west longitude on Mimas.
This mosaic was acquired at a distance of approximately 28,000 miles (45,000 km) from Mimas.
At closest approach, Cassini passed 25,620 miles (41,230 km) from the icy moon.
All future observations of Mimas will be from more than twice this distance.
