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Yin and yang of Saturn’s moon Iapetus

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January 31, 2014

New Cassini photo of Saturn's moon Iapetus shows the satellite's dark and light sides as resembling the yin and yang symbol in Chinese philosophy. Image via NASA/JPL Caltech/Space Science Institute. — New Cassini photo of Saturn’s moon Iapetus shows the satellite’s dark and light sides as resembling the yin and yang symbol in Chinese philosophy. Image via NASA/JPL Caltech/Space Science Institute.

NASA recently released this Cassini spacecraft image of Saturn’s moon Iapetus. The image, actually taken last August, shows Iapetus looking strikingly similar to the Chinese taiji symbol, what many called the yin-yang symbol. This symbol represents nature’s duality: up and down, black and white, hot and cold.

And, in fact, there are yin and yang aspects to Saturn’s moon. It’s sometimes called a two-faced moon because one side appears dark (yin), and the other side is light (yang). Read more: Hal Levison on Saturn’s weird moon Iapetus

Chinese New Year on January 31, 2014 rings in Year of the Horse

Cassini captured the first high-resolution glimpse of the bright trailing hemisphere of Saturn's moon Iapetus in this false-color mosaic from September 2007. Read about this image at Wikimedia Commons. — Cassini captured the first high-resolution glimpse of the bright trailing hemisphere of Saturn’s moon Iapetus in this false-color mosaic from September 2007. Read about this image at Wikimedia Commons.

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January 31, 2014

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Deborah Byrd

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Deborah Byrd (asteroid 3505 Byrd) helps edit EarthSky.org and is a frequent host of EarthSky videos. Deborah created the EarthSky radio series in 1991 and founded EarthSky.org in 1994. Prior to that, she had worked for the University of Texas McDonald Observatory since 1976, and created and produced their Star Date radio series. She has won a galaxy of awards from the broadcasting and science communities, including having an asteroid named in her honor in 1990, a Public Service Award from the National Science Board in 2003, and the Education Prize from the American Astronomical Society in 2020. A science communicator and educator since 1976, Byrd believes in science as a force for good in the world and a vital tool for the 21st century. "Being an EarthSky editor is like hosting a big global party for cool nature-lovers," she says.