Moons · Moon of Saturn

Mimas

1.4 billion km from the Sun · Light crosses it in 0.0013 seconds

Across
396 km
Vs Earth
3.11% of Earth
Mass
3.8 × 10¹⁹ kg

Open Mimas in Cosmic Scale

About

Mimas is the smallest body in the Solar System still rounded by its own gravity. One enormous impact crater, Herschel, spans a third of its width and gives it an uncanny resemblance to a certain fictional battle station.

Its giant Herschel crater makes it look like the Death Star.

At a glance

OrbitsSaturn, every 22.6 hours
Herschel crater130 km across
SurfaceAbout −200 °C
Discovered1789, William Herschel

Did you know

  1. The impact that made Herschel nearly shattered the moon; fractures show on the opposite side.
  2. Measurements published in 2024 suggest a young liquid ocean may lie 20–30 km beneath the ice.
  3. Mimas is mostly water ice, which is why so small a body is round at all.

Real photo