Astronomy Picture of the Day ·

Saturn's Iapetus: Moon with a Strange Surface

The Astronomy Picture of the Day for February 26, 2023 is “Saturn's Iapetus: Moon with a Strange Surface,” an image. It is credited to Image Credit: NASA , ESA , JPL , SSI , Cassini Imaging Team. The original explanation runs about 181 words.

An unusual two-toned ball is pictured. The ball, Saturn's moon Iapetus, has many craters and an unusual ridge running along its equator that makes it look like a walnut. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.
Credit: Image Credit: NASA , ESA , JPL , SSI , Cassini Imaging Team Shown from science.nasa.gov. Not hosted by OpenOrbit.

From the explanation

“What would make a moon look like a walnut? A strange ridge that circles Saturn ‘s moon Iapetus ‘s equator, visible near the bottom of the featured image , makes it appear similar to a popular edible nut .”

— APOD editors, February 26, 2023

Read the full explanation on science.nasa.gov

At a glance

Date
February 26, 2023
Type
Image
Credit
Credit: Image Credit: NASA , ESA , JPL , SSI , Cassini Imaging Team
Copyright
No copyright notice on the entry. Check the credited institution’s own usage rules before reusing it.
Explanation length
About 181 words

All of February 2023 → · 2023 by month → · Full archive since 1995 →

Topics in this entry

The MoonSaturn

Topics are matched from words in the title and explanation.

On this day: February 26 in other years

On Amazon

Popular picks for space fans

As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.

Electronics Amazon Kindle Paperwhite Signature Edition 32GB Read astronomy and space-history books anywhere. View on Amazon → Electronics Bose QuietComfort Wireless Headphones Noise-cancelling headphones for documentaries and launch livestreams. View on Amazon →

Source

Copy taken Oct 28, 2026, 2:39 AM EDT. The image and explanation belong to their creators. OpenOrbit is not affiliated with or endorsed by NASA.