Herschel (crater on Mimas)

:For other craters in the solar system named 'Herschel', see Herschel (crater).

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Herschel is a huge crater on the Saturnian moon Mimas. It is named after the eighteenth century astronomer William Herschel, who discovered Mimas in 1789.

Related Topics:
Crater - Saturnian - Mimas - Eighteenth century - Astronomer - William Herschel - 1789

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The crater is so large that it is surprising that Mimas was not shattered by the impact that caused it. It measures 130 km across, covering almost 1/3 of the diameter of the entire moon; its walls are approximately 5 km high, parts of its floor are 10 km deep, and its central peak rises 6 km above the crater floor. If there were a crater of an equivalent scale on Earth it would be over 4000 km in diameter, wider than Canada. The impact that formed Herschel must have nearly disrupted Mimas entirely; fractures can be seen on the opposite side of Mimas that may be due to the shock waves from the impact travelling through the moon's body.

Related Topics:
Earth - Canada - Shock wave

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The similarity between Mimas's appearance and the Death Star in Star Wars has often been noted, although this is a coincidence, as the crater was not discovered until several years after the film was made.

Related Topics:
Death Star - Star Wars

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