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Saturn's Moon Iapetus Has A 'Belt'

Posted by timothy on from the it's-a-peach dept.

Believe writes "In another unexpected find by Cassini-Huygens, Saturn's moon Iapetus shows a bulging waistline. According to the story, the dark side of the moon is almost perfectly bisected by a tall, narrow ridge that runs for 1300 km (808 mi) and rises up to 20 km (12 mi) high. This height is amazing in such a small moon; it rivals Olympus Mons on Mars which is a body 5 times its size."

10 of 245 comments (clear)

  1. So do I... by Black+Parrot · · Score: 5, Funny

    ...but you don't see it on the front page of Slashdot.

    --
    Sheesh, evil *and* a jerk. -- Jade
  2. NASA... by Quaoar · · Score: 3, Funny

    That's no moon.

    --
    I'll form my OWN solar system! With blackjack! And hookers!
  3. Lucas be praised! by duffahtolla · · Score: 4, Funny

    This cant be coincidence..

  4. Re:it's obvious by Velox_SwiftFox · · Score: 3, Funny

    I think it is the remains of the ancient circum-Iapetus particle accelerator.

  5. The expanded midsection is because... by halcyon1234 · · Score: 4, Funny
    ... it ate too many MARS BARS

    Ahhhahahah! hahahaha! hahahaha...ooooo, just shoot me now.

    --
    UTF-8: There and Back Again
  6. I think I speak for many when I say... by solios · · Score: 3, Funny

    o_O.

    It's a giant space WALNUT. :O

  7. I'm a product designer by I7D · · Score: 4, Funny

    And that is definitely a parting line, just an artifact of the mold.

    --
    Neil is that you? Yeah yeah, it's me... Neil...
    1. Re:I'm a product designer by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

      Quite true. It was a budget moon so it is bound to have some minor issues.

      Sincerely,
      Magrathea planetary wharf

  8. Re:deathstar? by IPFreely · · Score: 3, Funny
    The Death Star had other features that this moon presently lacks.

    Oh come on. Give it a break. It was built a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away. It has a lot of miles and a lot of years on it. I think it looks good for its age.

    When 4 billion years you become, look as good you will not.

    --
    There is nothing so silly as other peoples traditions, and nothing so sacred as our own.
  9. Re:Nut by Dysan2k · · Score: 3, Funny

    I, for one, welcome our new giant, spacefaring squirrel overlords.

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    -What have you contributed lately?