                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                               2026 February 7

                             Crescent Enceladus
           Image Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA

   Explanation: Peering from the shadows, the Saturn-facing hemisphere of
   tantalizing inner moon Enceladus poses in this Cassini spacecraft
   image. North is up in the dramatic scene captured during November 2016
   as Cassini's camera was pointed in a nearly sunward direction about
   130,000 kilometers from the moon's bright crescent. In fact, the
   distant world reflects over 90 percent of the sunlight it receives,
   giving its surface about the same reflectivity as fresh snow. A mere
   500 kilometers in diameter, Enceladus is a surprisingly active moon.
   Data and images collected during Cassini's flybys have revealed water
   vapor and ice grains spewing from south polar geysers and evidence of
   an ocean of liquid water hidden beneath the moon's icy crust.

                       Tomorrow's picture: Sun spotted
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC,
                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

