See other posts from February 2012

Pretty picture: Enceladus, in lovely color

Posted By Emily Lakdawalla

2012/02/06 02:38 CST

Topics: Enceladus, Saturn's moons, Cassini, amateur image processing

Here's an awesome picture to start off the week. The data came from Cassini's flyby of Enceladus on January 31, 2011; it was part of Cassini's January 2012 data release. Most of the visible globe is lit by yellowish light reflected first from Saturn; only a thin crescent receives sunlight. At bottom center, Enceladus' south polar plumes erupt into space. They are back-lit by the Sun. As usual for awesome Cassini color photos posted here, this one was processed by Gordan Ugarkovic.

NASA / JPL / SSI / color composite by Gordan Ugarkovic

Enceladus