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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Saturn's rings, Mimas, Pan, and Prometheus

Saturn's rings, Mimas, Pan, and Prometheus
Saturn's rings, Mimas, Pan, and Prometheus Saturn's rings shouldn't get to steal all the spotlight. Here, the planet's moons Mimas, Pan, and Prometheus make a cameo — though Mimas is the easiest to see. This mosaic was made from Cassini images taken on October 3, 2007. NASA / JPL-Caltech / SSI / color mosaic by Gordan Ugarkovic

 Mimas is the bright speck above the rings, with its giant crater Herschel clearly visible upon enlargement. Near the left ansa (edge) of the rings, tiny Pan orbits within the narrow Encke gap. And, below the main rings, potato-shaped Prometheus sits atop the very faint F ring. Pan and Prometheus are only visible when the image is enlarged to its full size.