Space / 2017-03-14
Farewell to Mimas
NASA's image library records Farewell to Mimas.
In its season of "lasts," NASA's Cassini spacecraft made its final close approach to Saturn's moon Mimas on January 30, 2017. At closest approach, Cassini passed 25,620 miles (41,230 kilometers) from Mimas. All future observations of Mimas will be from more than twice this distance. This mosaic is one of the highest resolution views ever captured o
A CLOSER LOOK
In its season of "lasts," NASA's Cassini spacecraft made its final close approach to Saturn's moon Mimas on January 30, 2017. At closest approach, Cassini passed 25,620 miles (41,230 kilometers) from Mimas. All future observations of Mimas will be from more than twice this distance. This mosaic is one of the highest resolution views ever captured of the icy moon. Close approaches to Mimas have been somewhat rare during Cassini's mission, with only seven flybys at distances of less than 31,000 miles (50,000 kilometers). Mimas' surface is pockmarked with countless craters, the largest of which gives the icy moon its distinctive appearance. Imaging scientists combined ten narrow-angle camera images to create this mosaic view. The scene is an orthographic projection centered on terrain at 17.5
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FOLLOW THE EVIDENCE
NASA Image and Video LibraryFarewell to MimasOriginal explanation based on the sources above. Images carry their own reuse terms.