King Gizzard
30-03-2010, 06:35 PM
:shocked:
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01606/saturn_1606360c.jpg
The image, taken by the Cassini spaceship which is orbiting the planet, looks remarkably like that of the video game icon Pac-Man.
The probe measured temperature differences across the object's surface and produced a map mimicking the popular character.
Scientists think the variations in temperature are probably related to the diversity of textures in the surface materials.
Some textures may retain heat better than others, they explain.
Mimas is about 400km (250 miles) across. It has a distinctive scar called Herschel Crater which has led many to draw comparisons with the "Death Star" from the Star Wars movies.
The Cassini team said the creation of the crater itself might have played a key role in changing conditions across extensive regions of the moon's surface.
Cassini is a joint venture between the US space agency (Nasa), the European Space Agency (Esa) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).
Its mission was recently extended through to 2017.
Saturn has 62 moons with confirmed orbits. The biggest is Titan, which is larger than the planet Mercury.
http://i.telegraph.co.uk/telegraph/multimedia/archive/01606/saturn_1606360c.jpg
The image, taken by the Cassini spaceship which is orbiting the planet, looks remarkably like that of the video game icon Pac-Man.
The probe measured temperature differences across the object's surface and produced a map mimicking the popular character.
Scientists think the variations in temperature are probably related to the diversity of textures in the surface materials.
Some textures may retain heat better than others, they explain.
Mimas is about 400km (250 miles) across. It has a distinctive scar called Herschel Crater which has led many to draw comparisons with the "Death Star" from the Star Wars movies.
The Cassini team said the creation of the crater itself might have played a key role in changing conditions across extensive regions of the moon's surface.
Cassini is a joint venture between the US space agency (Nasa), the European Space Agency (Esa) and the Italian Space Agency (ASI).
Its mission was recently extended through to 2017.
Saturn has 62 moons with confirmed orbits. The biggest is Titan, which is larger than the planet Mercury.