Iapetus (moon)

Iapetus is a large moon of Saturn. It was discovered by Giovanni Domenico Cassini in 1671.^[1]

Iapetus is unusual: one side is very bright and the other side is very dark. This is because one half of the moon is covered in ice and the other side is coated in black, dusty carbon deposits.^[1] When Cassini observed the moon, he could only see the moon on one side of Saturn. He concluded that the moon is darker on side than the other, and it was confirmed by the Voyager 1 spacecraft. Iapetus also has an equatorial ridge discovered by the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft on 31 December 2004. Iapetus has a slow rotation rate, taking 79 Earth days for a rotation.^[1] Another observation that has puzzled scientists is how it has a mountain range across its equator, giving it the shape of a walnut.

References

↑ ^1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Cox, Brian; Cohen, Andrew (2010). Wonders of the Solar System. HarperCollins. p. 94-95. ISBN 9780007386901.

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[cox-1] 1.0 ^1.1 ^1.2 Cox, Brian; Cohen, Andrew (2010). Wonders of the Solar System. HarperCollins. p. 94-95. ISBN 9780007386901.

[1]

v t e Moons of Saturn
Listed in approximately increasing distance from Saturn. Temporary names in italics.
Ring shepherds	S/2009 S 1 Ring moonlets Pan Daphnis Atlas Prometheus Pandora
Co-orbitals	Epimetheus Janus
G Ring	Aegaeon
Mimas and Alkyonides	Mimas Methone Anthe Pallene
Inner large (with trojans)	Enceladus Tethys Telesto Calypso Dione Helene Polydeuces
Outer large	Rhea Titan Hyperion Iapetus
Inuit group	Kiviuq Ijiraq Paaliaq Siarnaq Tarqeq
Norse group	Phoebe Skathi S/2007 S 2(?) Skoll S/2004 S 13(?) Greip Hyrrokkin Jarnsaxa Mundilfari S/2006 S 1(?) S/2004 S 17(?) Bergelmir Narvi Suttungr Hati S/2004 S 12(?) Farbauti Thrymr Aegir S/2007 S 3(?) Bestla S/2004 S 7(?) S/2006 S 3 Fenrir Surtur Kari Ymir Loge Fornjot
Gallic group	Albiorix Bebhionn Erriapus Tarvos
Rings of Saturn Cassini–Huygens Themis Chiron S/2004 S 6 S/2004 S 4 S/2004 S 3 In fiction