Cassini Reveals Strange Shape of Saturn's Moon Pan

These raw, unprocessed images of Saturn's tiny moon, Pan, were taken on March 7, 2017, by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. The flyby had a close-approach distance of 24,572 kilometers (15,268 miles).

These are the closest images ever taken of Pan and the pictures are spectacular. Comparisons are being made that it looks like an alien spaceship or a piece of ravioli.
saturn.jpl.nasa.gov...
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Moon or free floating albino walnut?

The world may never know.

Just seen this a few minutes ago. It'll be interesting to find out how it came to this shape.
My first theory; semi molten material squeezed out between two smaller bodies crushed together by gravity. Probably wrong.

a reply to: EchoesInTime

What a strange little moon!

I wonder, did it form when two small bodies collided, and then cool super rapidly, before the geometry of the thing had time to settle?

A fascinating thing to see, thank you so much for posting this!

a reply to: EchoesInTime

Wow , that is a strange thing.
Not sayin Aliens but......

originally posted by: ThickAsABrick
Just seen this a few minutes ago. It'll be interesting to find out how it came to this shape.
My first theory; semi molten material squeezed out between two smaller bodies crushed together by gravity. Probably wrong.

Cassini scientist Carolyn Porco has tweeted about what causes this shape.

The planetary scientist also answered questions about Pan’s unusual shape. "For those who asked: Pan orbits in a ring gap of its own making. Early on & to some degree even now, ring material falls on its equator," she tweeted.

twitter.com...

a reply to: EchoesInTime

Nooooo!

Are you telling me, that little Pan there, is wearing a tutu made of debris? Because I might just flip my top if that is true! lol!

a reply to: EchoesInTime

Space walnuts are the best type of walnut

a reply to: FamCore

I agree. Now if only we could find a walnutmoon sized nut cracker we would be golden.

2010
Image of the Day: Saturn's Weird Moon, Pan (cool picture)
page: 1
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Finally, NEW CONTENT. Excellent reason for a thread.

Never seen the like of it. Can't even imagine the physics behind how that was formed.

originally posted by: SeaWorthy
2010
Image of the Day: Saturn's Weird Moon, Pan (cool picture)
page: 1
www.abovetopsecret.com...

Great photo of Pan in 2010.

It tastes like cardboard filled with sherbet.

originally posted by: TheAlleghenyGentleman
a reply to: FamCore

I agree. Now if only we could find a walnutmoon sized nut cracker we would be golden.

This sounds like a job for Elon Musk

a reply to: TheAlleghenyGentleman

Or Ravioli... Perogies? So many possibilities! These aliens could be on the Paleo Diet, they could be Italians, or even Russians I'm fascinated

a reply to: FamCore

Space-a-roli sound delish. I would eat a bowl of that.

I think Pan is heating up in the middle and expanding. Check back in 5 million years to see if it's then round.

No...take that back. There's no craters on the brim around it's his circumference, so that material is recent. Maybe it was round, and molten in the middle. Then, something squeezed the little guy too hard.

I think it looks like a patty pan squash.

Nawww, that was the Greys first attempt at making a ringed planet, ain't that cute. The grand overlords stuck it on the "space fridge" 'cause they were so proud of them. Babysteps Gray's, babysteps...