A remarkable Cassini picture: Hyperion (moon of Saturn)

Cassini-Huygens Mission to Saturn and Titan ^ | 09/30/2005 | Cassini

[FormerACLUmember]

Thanks

[Kokojmudd]

[purpleland]

Yeah, that will be a fun one to explain. How does a moon, even a small one like this, absorb an impact capable of cratering 75% of its diameter and NOT shatter? The size of the crater versus the size of the moon seems impossible.

From totally stuck-in-stupid about astronomy, but couldn't this irregularly shaped moon be a cast-off after it was formed on a larger surface?

[cogitator]

Yeah, that will be a fun one to explain. How does a moon, even a small one like this, absorb an impact capable of cratering 75% of its diameter and NOT shatter? The size of the crater versus the size of the moon seems impossible.

Probably because it's composed of porous water ice and only a bit of rock. So when it hit, it deformed rather than broke. See my next post (and then I have to stop speculatin').

[cogitator]

After looking at this again (and this will be it), I think that we're seeing the results of a major impact on a primarily water ice body. According to the quick reads on Hyperion, that's probably what it's made of. I think that the impact was somewhat inelastically absorbed by Hyperion, leading to the melted "edges" of the crater, and the weird appearance of the surface inside of it. Doesn't it look like it boiled and then cooled (fast)? It was really the paper wasp nest comment that made me think of it, because permafrost forms polygonal surfaces. See the airborne photo below of the Antarctic dry valleys.

Eh?

[FormerACLUmember]

I totally agree. In the case of a deep space gigantic ice-ball like Hyperion, the water sublimates slowly into the absolute vacuum of space. H2O can be converted into oxygen and hydrogen fuel. Hence Hyperion would be neat place to refuel.

[Graymatter]

Electrons orbit the nucleus the way the planets orbit the sun.

I thought that theory went into the dust bin some time ago...?

[dbwz]

OMG, that looks like a chicken's foot. Or a lobster claw.

Are you the proud parent? ;-)

[flaglady47]

Hey, that's not a moon, that's my sponge I bought at the Tarpon Springs sponge docks in Florida. Give it back!!!!!

[Kokojmudd]

Well, I am waiting for Art Bell to deliver the definitive answer on this.

[Alter Kaker]

Electrons orbit the nucleus the way the planets orbit the sun.

No they don't. (1) Planet orbit distances are not layered in shells. (2) Electron "orbits" are random. (3) The Pauli Exclusion Principle doesn't apply to planets. I'm sure I could think of several hundred other major differences between electron and planetary behavior.

God's construction is simply yet complex.

If you think atomic structure is simple, you're either ignorant of quantum theory, or you're the smartest man alive and I want you on my staff.

[Itzlzha]

Tell me that this moon doesn't resemble a Buckyball...

Almost a dead ringer!

[Itzlzha]

He does play the occasional game of billards, though.

My addition...

Black Holes and anywhere the DemonRATs gather in large numbers are proof that G_d does divide by zero...

[NCC-1701]

"...How far away is this moon?..."

You go down the street, turn right, and go a few hundred million miles. It's after the second stop light.

[NCC-1701]

A galactic spud.

[Colonel_Flagg]

Thanks for that link. I've now got computer wallpaper for the rest of my life.

[Colonel_Flagg]

"Not only does God play at dice, he throws them under the sofa"--Some wag physicist

[Colonel_Flagg]

"Not only does God play at dice, he throws them under the sofa"--Some wag physicist

"Not only does God play dice, sometimes He throws the dice where they cannot be seen." - Stephen Hawking

[Lancey Howard]

Awesome. Simply awesome.

[stevio]

Ok, ok, ok. I am ignorant on the current theory of atomic design.

A.K. I'm not the smartest man alive, but I did stay at a Holiday Inn Express last night.