Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2021 January 9

                           Titan: Moon over Saturn
          Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, Space Science Institute

   Explanation: Like Earth's moon, Saturn's largest moon Titan is locked
   in synchronous rotation. This mosaic of images recorded by the Cassini
   spacecraft in May of 2012 shows its anti-Saturn side, the side always
   facing away from the ringed gas giant. The only moon in the solar
   system with a dense atmosphere, Titan is the only solar system world
   besides Earth known to have standing bodies of liquid on its surface
   and an earthlike cycle of liquid rain and evaporation. Its high
   altitude layer of atmospheric haze is evident in the Cassini view of
   the 5,000 kilometer diameter moon over Saturn's rings and cloud tops.
   Near center is the dark dune-filled region known as Shangri-La. The
   Cassini-delivered Huygens probe rests below and left of center, after
   the most distant landing for a spacecraft from Earth.

                  Tomorrow's picture: star cluster breakout
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

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