This is the Web Edition of "A Trip Into Space", a Coimbra-based electronic book on space science. Both the texts and the photos are by courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
| This is the Web Edition of "A Trip Into Space", a Coimbra-based electronic book on space science. Both the texts and the photos are by courtesy of National Aeronautics and Space Administration.
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A Trip Into Space  Saturn Satellites And Rings Saturn's Satellite Rhea |
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| See also: Saturnian Satellite Fact Sheet |   |
Special computer processing was used to enhance subtle color and brightness variations in this photo of Saturn's satellite, Rhea, taken by Voyager 1 on Nov. 12, 1980, at a distance of 1.3 million kilometers (808,000 miles). Rhea's surface is composed mostly of ice, so is very reflective, and presents an almost uniformly white appearance. Of particular interest to Voyager scientists are the bright streaks that can be seen crossing Rhea's face. Scientists believe the streaks may be caused by fresh ice ejected from beneath the satellite's surface. Voyager 1 made its closest approach to Saturn Nov. 12, 1980, and is now en route out of the solar system. Voyager 2 will make its closest approach to Saturn Aug. 25, 1981, and will then continue toward an encounter with Uranus in January 1986. The Voyager Project is managed for NASA by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, California.
Last Update: 2004-Nov-27