Today's Image

Saturn’s 2-toned moon

Posted by

and

June 15, 2017

Image via NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute.

The Cassini spacecraft captured this view of the Saturn-facing hemisphere of the planet’s moon Iapetus on March 11, 2017, at a distance of approximately 1.6 million miles (2.6 million kilometers).

The moon gets it distinctive, two-toned appearance from the contrast between the dark Cassini Regio area – 914 miles (1,471 kilometers) across and covered in a layer of dusty material – and the much brighter region around it.

Enjoying EarthSky so far? Sign up for our free daily newsletter today!

Bottom line: Image of Saturn’s moon Iapetus by the Cassini spacecraft.

Eleanor Imster

View Articles

About the Author:

Eleanor Imster has helped write and edit EarthSky since 1995. She was an integral part of the award-winning EarthSky radio series almost since it began until it ended in 2013. She and her husband live in Tennessee, where they enjoy guitar playing and singing. They have 2 grown sons.