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Hyperion's sponge-like appearance

Author

Listed:
  • P. C. Thomas

    (Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA)

  • J. W. Armstrong

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA)

  • S. W. Asmar

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA)

  • J. A. Burns

    (Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA)

  • T. Denk

    (Institut für Geologische Wissenschaften, Freie Universität, 12249 Berlin, Germany)

  • B. Giese

    (Institute of Planetary Research, German Aerospace Center, Rutherfordstrasse 2, 12489 Berlin, Germany)

  • P. Helfenstein

    (Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA)

  • L. Iess

    (Università La Sapienza, via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy)

  • T. V. Johnson

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA)

  • A. McEwen

    (University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85721, USA)

  • L. Nicolaisen

    (University of California at Los Angeles, Box 951547 Los Angeles, California 90095, USA)

  • C. Porco

    (Space Science Institute, 4750 Walnut Street, Boulder, Colorado 80301, USA)

  • N. Rappaport

    (Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California 91109, USA)

  • J. Richardson

    (Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA)

  • L. Somenzi

    (Università La Sapienza, via Eudossiana 18, 00184 Roma, Italy)

  • P. Tortora

    (DIEM-II Facoltà di Ingegneria, Università di Bologna, Via Fontanelle, 4047100 Forlì, Italy)

  • E. P. Turtle

    (Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, 11100 Johns Hopkins Road, Laurel, Maryland 20723, USA)

  • J. Veverka

    (Center for Radiophysics and Space Research, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853, USA)

Abstract

Cassini's view of Hyperion Saturn's moon Hyperion, an irregular shaped object in a tumbling orbit, looks odd: the Cassini flyby of September 2005 revealed a unique spongy surface. Two papers this week present the initial Cassini results. First, imaging and radio data suggest that the spongy appearance is caused by impact cratering on a porous body. And second, near-infrared and ultraviolet spectroscopy reveal details of the surface composition of the highly reflective areas that cover much of the surface, and also of the darker areas, mostly at the bottom of craters. The spectra are consistent with the presence of water ice contaminated with an organic solid. The low-albedo (dark) material is spectroscopically similar to that found on two other saturnian moons, Iapetus and Phoebe, containing a mixture of water ice, complex organics, carbon dioxide and nitriles. This cocktail of materials resembles those seen in comets and probably in Kuiper Belt objects.

Suggested Citation

  • P. C. Thomas & J. W. Armstrong & S. W. Asmar & J. A. Burns & T. Denk & B. Giese & P. Helfenstein & L. Iess & T. V. Johnson & A. McEwen & L. Nicolaisen & C. Porco & N. Rappaport & J. Richardson & L. So, 2007. "Hyperion's sponge-like appearance," Nature, Nature, vol. 448(7149), pages 50-53, July.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:448:y:2007:i:7149:d:10.1038_nature05779
    DOI: 10.1038/nature05779
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