Why it matters

Herschel shows how an impact structure can become the dominant visual fact of an entire moon.

What happenedA giant crater on Saturn's moon Mimas, so large it nearly defines the small world's appearance.
Why it mattersHerschel shows how an impact structure can become the dominant visual fact of an entire moon.
How scientists knowNASA Image and Video Library; Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Measurements and uncertainty

Diamètre139 km
Depthnot listed
Ageancient impact feature
StatutConfirmé
Coordinates1.380° S / 111.760° W
Record levelminimal

Seed record: coordinates and diameter support navigation, while geology, age, and visual rights need enrichment.

Profil scientifique

The crater's size relative to Mimas highlights the limits of impact processing on small icy bodies.

Data provenanceNASA Image and Video Library; Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature

Galerie de reconstruction

Davantage de lectures visuelles du cratère

Si l'image vérifiée ne suffit pas, la fiche reçoit une reconstruction scientifique : non pas de la fantaisie à la place du fait, mais une hypothèse visuelle séparée des sources.

Palette du mondeicy turquoise, deep space, and distant moons
Herschel crater occupies a huge share of Mimas's visible disk.
Aperçu visuel actuelPlaque de base : source, matériau orbital ou planche éditoriale où commence la lecture visuelle.
Reverse reconstructionmoving from the present trace back to the impact event
Chronological inversionreading the object from future state back through earlier layers
The present as an archive of the futuretreating today's profile as evidence for future analysis

Visual reconstruction

Reverse reconstruction → Chronological inversion → Bidirectional analysis → The present as an archive of the future

Chaque fiche doit avoir un aperçu visuel : image existante, source traitée esthétiquement ou reconstruction scientifique.

Reverse reconstructionmoving from the present trace back to the impact event
Chronological inversionreading the object from future state back through earlier layers
Bidirectional analysischecking past-to-present and present-to-past interpretations
The present as an archive of the futuretreating today's profile as evidence for future analysis

Historique de recherche

The feature is known from Saturn-system missions, including Cassini.

Sources

CSVJSONHerschel on Mimas. Crater.world record. Last reviewed 2026-05-08.
Last reviewed
2026-05-08
Source baseline
NASA Image and Video Library; Gazetteer of Planetary Nomenclature
Uncertainty note
Seed record: coordinates and diameter support navigation, while geology, age, and visual rights need enrichment.
NASA Image and Video LibraryNASAGazetteer of Planetary NomenclatureInternational Astronomical Union / USGS

Education mode

Faits

  • The crater diameter is a significant fraction of Mimas itself.
  • Its central peak is especially visible in images.
Glossaryejecta, impact melt, breccia, central peak, erosion
Classroom questionWhich evidence separates an impact crater from a volcanic caldera?
CompareOccator