Astronomy Picture of the Day - Crescent Enceladus

NASA ^ | 7 Feb, 2026 | Image Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA

[MtnClimber]

Explanation: Peering from the shadows, the Saturn-facing hemisphere of tantalizing inner moon Enceladus poses in this Cassini spacecraft image. North is up in the dramatic scene captured during November 2016 as Cassini's camera was pointed in a nearly sunward direction about 130,000 kilometers from the moon's bright crescent. In fact, the distant world reflects over 90 percent of the sunlight it receives, giving its surface about the same reflectivity as fresh snow. A mere 500 kilometers in diameter, Enceladus is a surprisingly active moon. Data and images collected during Cassini's flybys have revealed water vapor and ice grains spewing from south polar geysers and evidence of an ocean of liquid water hidden beneath the moon's icy crust.

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TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; nasa

[MtnClimber]

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For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.

[MtnClimber]

[MtnClimber]

Pinging the APOD list

🪐 🌟 🌌 🍔

[martin_fierro]

I thought it said, "Enchiladus"

[BenLurkin]

bttt

[NavyShoe]

Drill baby, drill.

[No name given]

Wow.

[telescope115]

Alas, Cassini, if only you were still there, snapping more wonderful images.

[telescope115]

Good lord, what a gaping maw….🫣

[Diana in Wisconsin]

Vapor and ice crystals spewing from an icy Moon geyser? Sounds like a recipe for LIFE...but you’ll need your big winter coat. Year-round. ;)