Hyperion's sponge-like appearance

P. C. Thomas; J. W. Armstrong; S. W. Asmar; J. A. Burns; T. Denk; B. Giese; P. Helfenstein; L. Iess; T. V. Johnson; A. McEwen; L. Nicolaisen; C. Porco; N. Rappaport; J. Richardson; L. Somenzi; P. Tortora; E. P. Turtle; J. Veverka

doi:10.1038/nature05779

Hyperion's sponge-like appearance

P. C. Thomas, J. W. Armstrong, S. W. Asmar, J. A. Burns, T. Denk, B. Giese, P. Helfenstein, L. Iess, T. V. Johnson, A. McEwen, L. Nicolaisen, C. Porco, N. Rappaport, J. Richardson, L. Somenzi, P. Tortora, E. P. Turtle, J. Veverka

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

64 Scopus citations

Abstract

Hyperion is Saturn's largest known irregularly shaped satellite and the only moon observed to undergo chaotic rotation. Previous work has identified Hyperion's surface as distinct from other small icy objects but left the causes unsettled. Here we report high-resolution images that reveal a unique sponge-like appearance at scales of a few kilometres. Mapping shows a high surface density of relatively well-preserved craters two to ten kilometres across. We have also determined Hyperion's size and mass, and calculated the mean density as 544 ± 50 kg m^-3, which indicates a porosity of >40 per cent. The high porosity may enhance preservation of craters by minimizing the amount of ejecta produced or retained, and accordingly may be the crucial factor in crafting this unusual surface.

Original language	English (US)
Pages (from-to)	50-53
Number of pages	4
Journal	Nature
Volume	448
Issue number	7149
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/nature05779
State	Published - Jul 7 2007

ASJC Scopus subject areas

General

Access to Document

10.1038/nature05779

Cite this

@article{43657e0a9b574086a2fe2e096d554d78,

title = "Hyperion's sponge-like appearance",

abstract = "Hyperion is Saturn's largest known irregularly shaped satellite and the only moon observed to undergo chaotic rotation. Previous work has identified Hyperion's surface as distinct from other small icy objects but left the causes unsettled. Here we report high-resolution images that reveal a unique sponge-like appearance at scales of a few kilometres. Mapping shows a high surface density of relatively well-preserved craters two to ten kilometres across. We have also determined Hyperion's size and mass, and calculated the mean density as 544 ± 50 kg m-3, which indicates a porosity of >40 per cent. The high porosity may enhance preservation of craters by minimizing the amount of ejecta produced or retained, and accordingly may be the crucial factor in crafting this unusual surface.",

author = "Thomas, {P. C.} and Armstrong, {J. W.} and Asmar, {S. W.} and Burns, {J. A.} and T. Denk and B. Giese and P. Helfenstein and L. Iess and Johnson, {T. V.} and A. McEwen and L. Nicolaisen and C. Porco and N. Rappaport and J. Richardson and L. Somenzi and P. Tortora and Turtle, {E. P.} and J. Veverka",

note = "Funding Information: This work was supported in part by grants U01-HL054463 (THM) from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health . MEH is supported by 1K08DK099415 from the NIDDK and P20GM10357 from the NIGMS ( National Institutes of Health ). ",

year = "2007",

month = jul,

day = "7",

doi = "10.1038/nature05779",

language = "English (US)",

volume = "448",

pages = "50--53",

journal = "Nature",

issn = "0028-0836",

publisher = "Nature Research",

number = "7149",

}

TY - JOUR

T1 - Hyperion's sponge-like appearance

AU - Thomas, P. C.

AU - Armstrong, J. W.

AU - Asmar, S. W.

AU - Burns, J. A.

AU - Denk, T.

AU - Giese, B.

AU - Helfenstein, P.

AU - Iess, L.

AU - Johnson, T. V.

AU - McEwen, A.

AU - Nicolaisen, L.

AU - Porco, C.

AU - Rappaport, N.

AU - Richardson, J.

AU - Somenzi, L.

AU - Tortora, P.

AU - Turtle, E. P.

AU - Veverka, J.

N1 - Funding Information: This work was supported in part by grants U01-HL054463 (THM) from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute of the National Institutes of Health . MEH is supported by 1K08DK099415 from the NIDDK and P20GM10357 from the NIGMS ( National Institutes of Health ).

PY - 2007/7/7

Y1 - 2007/7/7

N2 - Hyperion is Saturn's largest known irregularly shaped satellite and the only moon observed to undergo chaotic rotation. Previous work has identified Hyperion's surface as distinct from other small icy objects but left the causes unsettled. Here we report high-resolution images that reveal a unique sponge-like appearance at scales of a few kilometres. Mapping shows a high surface density of relatively well-preserved craters two to ten kilometres across. We have also determined Hyperion's size and mass, and calculated the mean density as 544 ± 50 kg m-3, which indicates a porosity of >40 per cent. The high porosity may enhance preservation of craters by minimizing the amount of ejecta produced or retained, and accordingly may be the crucial factor in crafting this unusual surface.

AB - Hyperion is Saturn's largest known irregularly shaped satellite and the only moon observed to undergo chaotic rotation. Previous work has identified Hyperion's surface as distinct from other small icy objects but left the causes unsettled. Here we report high-resolution images that reveal a unique sponge-like appearance at scales of a few kilometres. Mapping shows a high surface density of relatively well-preserved craters two to ten kilometres across. We have also determined Hyperion's size and mass, and calculated the mean density as 544 ± 50 kg m-3, which indicates a porosity of >40 per cent. The high porosity may enhance preservation of craters by minimizing the amount of ejecta produced or retained, and accordingly may be the crucial factor in crafting this unusual surface.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=34447133037&partnerID=8YFLogxK

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=34447133037&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1038/nature05779

DO - 10.1038/nature05779

M3 - Article

AN - SCOPUS:34447133037

SN - 0028-0836

VL - 448

SP - 50

EP - 53

JO - Nature

JF - Nature

IS - 7149

ER -

Hyperion's sponge-like appearance

Abstract

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this