Icy Rhea: Photos of Saturn's Second-Largest Moon

By Space.com Staff
published

Saturn Moon Rhea's Surprise: Oxygen-Rich Atmosphere

Science/AAAS

The March 2010 Rhea flyby trajectory and oxygen atmosphere distribution (as simulated by computer models). Inset: Predicted oxygen density (yellow), compared to Cassini's measurements (white) taken during the flyby.

Cassini Photo of Saturn Rings and 5 Moons

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

This photo, taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on July 29, 2011, shows Saturn's A and F rings and five of its moons. From left, the moons are Janus, Pandora, Enceladus, Mimas and Rhea.

Cassini Photo of Saturn Moons Rhea and Titan

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

Craters appear well defined on icy Rhea in front of the hazy orb of larger Titan in this view of the two Saturn moons. NASA's Cassini spacecraft snapped the photo on Dec. 10, 2011.

Saturn Moon Rhea Full View

NASA/JPL/SSI

This Cassini image taken during a Jan. 11, 2011 flyby shows Rhea in center stage, with Saturn's rings and three other moons in the background. Dione appears just above Rhea, with Tethys as the larger circle toward the upper left, and Epimetheus as the smaller dot to the left of Rhea.

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.