Herschel (Mimantean crater): Difference between revisions
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==Trivia== |
==Trivia== |
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The similarity between Mimas's appearance and the [[Death Star]] in ''[[Star Wars]]'' has often been noted, although this is a coincidence, as the crater was not discovered until several years after the film was made. When the original Cassini |
The similarity between Mimas's appearance and the [[Death Star]] in ''[[Star Wars]]'' has often been noted, although this is a coincidence, as the crater was not discovered until several years after the film was made. When the original Cassini images were first assembled, one of the mission scientists joked "Is that the motor?" |
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[[Harry Turtledove]] wrote a short story titled ''Les Mortes D'Athur'' that appeared in ''[[Departures (collection)|Departures]]'' about one event of the 66th [[Olympics]] being held on Mimas. The event is the "5-kilometer [[ski jump]]", where athletes propel themselves down a 5,000-meter ramp on the central mountain and launch themselves across the floor of the crater. Distances achieved are in excess of 11 kilometers, with a flight time of approximately 10 minutes. The event is disrupted by an assassin that kills three athletes with a laser weapon while they are in flight. |
[[Harry Turtledove]] wrote a short story titled ''Les Mortes D'Athur'' that appeared in ''[[Departures (collection)|Departures]]'' about one event of the 66th [[Olympics]] being held on Mimas. The event is the "5-kilometer [[ski jump]]", where athletes propel themselves down a 5,000-meter ramp on the central mountain and launch themselves across the floor of the crater. Distances achieved are in excess of 11 kilometers, with a flight time of approximately 10 minutes. The event is disrupted by an assassin that kills three athletes with a laser weapon while they are in flight. |
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Revision as of 03:14, 18 August 2010
1°23′S 111°46′W / 1.38°S 111.76°W[1]
Herschel (Template:PronEng) is a huge crater in the leading hemisphere of the Saturnian moon Mimas, on the equator at 100° longitude. It is named after the eighteenth century astronomer William Herschel, who discovered Mimas in 1789.
The crater is so large that astronomers have expressed surprise that Mimas was not shattered by the impact that caused it. It measures 139 km[1] across, almost 1/3 the diameter of the moon; its walls are approximately 5 km high, parts of its floor are 10 km deep, and its central peak rises 6 km above the crater floor. If there were a crater of an equivalent scale on Earth it would be over 4,000 km in diameter and wider than Canada. The impact that formed Herschel must have nearly disrupted Mimas entirely; fractures can be seen on the opposite side of Mimas that may be due to the shock waves from the impact travelling through the moon's body. Below, are photos from the Cassini probe to Saturn of both the massive crater on one side, and what appears to be faint stress marks on the satellite's opposite side when the body most likely came close to being disintegrated by the impact.
Trivia
The similarity between Mimas's appearance and the Death Star in Star Wars has often been noted, although this is a coincidence, as the crater was not discovered until several years after the film was made. When the original Cassini images were first assembled, one of the mission scientists joked "Is that the motor?"
Harry Turtledove wrote a short story titled Les Mortes D'Athur that appeared in Departures about one event of the 66th Olympics being held on Mimas. The event is the "5-kilometer ski jump", where athletes propel themselves down a 5,000-meter ramp on the central mountain and launch themselves across the floor of the crater. Distances achieved are in excess of 11 kilometers, with a flight time of approximately 10 minutes. The event is disrupted by an assassin that kills three athletes with a laser weapon while they are in flight.
Gallery
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Herschel at Mimas's terminator. -
Image of Mimas taken by Cassini on its close flyby of February 13, 2010. -
Cassini view of Herschel, showing crater wall albedo variation in lower left quadrant. -
Closeup of part of Herschel, including its central peak. -
The 'reverse' side of Mimas, with fractures (chasmata) possibly caused by Herschel's creation.
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References
- ^ a b "Herschel". Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature. USGS Astrogeology Research Program.
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