NASA Nabs Close-Ups of 'Spongy' Saturn Moon

NASA's Cassini probe snaps ultra-close image of Hyperion
By Matt Cantor,  Newser Staff
Posted Feb 28, 2011 2:53 PM CST
NASA's Cassini Probe Snaps Close-Up Image of Saturn's Moon Hyperion
This photo from NASA's website shows the spongy surface of Hyperion.   (NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute)

NASA's Cassini probe did a fly-by of Saturn’s Hyperion moon, and came away with close-up images that show a remarkably sponge-like surface, the Daily Mail reports. The moon, one of at least 62 ringing the planet, is covered with deep craters, and NASA scientists are hoping to discover what’s at the bottom. Toward that end, they toned down Hyperion's naturally red hue to better expose surface variations. The moon has a low density that causes it to orbit erratically, notes the Mail. (More Saturn stories.)

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