Loading

Chaos at Hyperion

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute2016-12-05

NASA

NASA
Washington, DC, United States

The moon Hyperion tumbles as it orbits Saturn. Hyperion's (168 miles or 270 kilometers across) spin axis has a chaotic orientation in time, meaning that it is essentially impossible to predict how the moon will be spinning in the future. So far, scientists only know of a few bodies with such chaotic spins.

The image was taken in green light with the Cassini spacecraft narrow-angle camera on Aug. 22, 2016.

The view was acquired at a distance of approximately 203,000 miles (326,000 kilometers) from Hyperion and at a Sun-Hyperion-spacecraft, or phase, angle of 10 degrees. Image scale is 1 mile (2 kilometers) per pixel.

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA20512

Show lessRead more
  • Title: Chaos at Hyperion
  • Creator: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
  • Date Created: 2016-12-05
  • Rights: JPL
  • Album: kboggs
NASA

Get the app

Explore museums and play with Art Transfer, Pocket Galleries, Art Selfie, and more

Home
Discover
Play
Nearby
Favorites