Phoebe up close

[mmcirvin]

Now that's a closeup. From a nondescript blur to this kind of view in a couple of days: expect much more of this in coming months. The topography reminds me a lot of other small worlds like Eros, and Phobos, really steep craters with giant boulders sitting on what look to us like impossible slopes. But Phoebe is larger than they are and is probably made of completely different stuff; it's an icy object, possibly imported from the Kuiper Belt.

This one shows a peculiar-looking crater that seems to have exposed some layers of bright- and dark-colored material just beneath the surface.

Comments

[partiallyclips.livejournal.com]

I've never really liked the tight money-shot closeup pics. I like it when you can see the planetoid's face. It's just...classier.