                        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.

                                 2025 May 3

                           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 with its planet. 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: black hole spin
     __________________________________________________________________

       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
                NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

