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Astronomy Image of the Day

Saturn's Moon Tethys

24 November 1995

Author not provided

NASA Astronomy Image of the Day for 24 November 1995

Tethys is one of the larger and closer moons of Saturn. It was visited by both Voyager spacecraft - Voyager 1 in November 1980 and by Voyager 2 in August 1981. Tethys is now known to be composed almost completely of water ice. Tethys shows a large impact crater that nearly circles the planet. That the impact that caused this crater did not disrupt the moon is taken as evidence that Tethys was not completely frozen in its past. Tethys has two moons named Telesto and Calypso that orbit just ahead of it and behind it. Tethys was originally discovered in 1684 by Giovanni Cassini.

Image and explanation courtesy of NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day