An approximately natural color mosaic of
Iapetus, the third-largest
moon of
Saturn, taken on December 31, 2004 by the
Cassini orbiter at a distance of about 173,000 km. Two huge and ancient
impact craters are visible as well as a
mountain range running precisely along the
equator. The north pole is approximately at the 1 o'clock position and is in darkness here. Named after the mythical
Iapetus, the moon was discovered by the orbiter's namesake,
Giovanni Domenico Cassini, in 1671.Photo credit:
Cassini orbiter
An approximately natural color mosaic of
Iapetus, the third-largest
moon of
Saturn, taken on December 31, 2004 by the
Cassini orbiter at a distance of about 173,000 km. Two huge and ancient
impact craters are visible as well as a
mountain range running precisely along the
equator. The north pole is approximately at the 1 o'clock position and is in darkness here. Named after the mythical
Iapetus, the moon was discovered by the orbiter's namesake,
Giovanni Domenico Cassini, in 1671.Photo credit:
Cassini orbiter