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n2doc

(47,953 posts)
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 08:05 PM Dec 2015

Bull's-eye Moons of Saturn



Like a cosmic bull's-eye, Enceladus and Tethys line up almost perfectly for Cassini's cameras.

Since the two moons are not only aligned, but also at relatively similar distances from Cassini, the apparent sizes in this image are a good approximation of the relative sizes of Enceladus (313 miles or 504 kilometers across) and Tethys (660 miles or 1,062 kilometers across).

This view looks toward the unilluminated side of the rings from 0.34 degrees below the ring plane. The image was taken in red light with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera on Sept. 24, 2015.

The image was obtained at a distance of approximately 1.3 million miles (2.1 million kilometers) from Enceladus. Image scale on Enceladus is 7 miles (12 kilometers) per pixel. Tethys was at a distance of 1.6 million miles (2.6 million kilometers) with a pixel scale of 10 miles (16 kilometers) per pixel.

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA18349
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Bull's-eye Moons of Saturn (Original Post) n2doc Dec 2015 OP
Taken from below the ring plane. longship Dec 2015 #1
Top is closest would be my guess Fumesucker Dec 2015 #2
That is what makes sense if it was viewed from below the ring plane. longship Dec 2015 #3
Beauty. byronius Dec 2015 #4

longship

(40,416 posts)
1. Taken from below the ring plane.
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 08:23 PM
Dec 2015

Q: Is the top of the ring in this picture closest, or the bottom?

Good luck with figuring it out.

longship

(40,416 posts)
3. That is what makes sense if it was viewed from below the ring plane.
Mon Dec 14, 2015, 11:34 PM
Dec 2015

But my brain -- MY BRAIN!!! -- says it is the farthest away and the ring plane is viewed from the top.

ARRRRGH!


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