Download Harram - SUPARCO

Student Name: Harram Khan
Class: IX
School: APS&C FortRoad, Rawalpindi
Target 1: Iapetus
Father to the great Atlas and Prometheus has more to it than conceivable. The moon of “Iapetus”
eleventh largest natural satellite of solar system is considered as the most mysterious from a whooping
one-hundred and sixteen satellite. The ridge and two toned surface first brought up to light by Giovanni
Domenico Cassini has been monitored a couple of times in the previous years. But Iapetus has more to
itself then traces of water like Dione, or Planetary rings like Saturn. Upon first look can a man notice the
unnatural symmetry, and the red-lilted regularity of the ridge, added to its dark and light sides, set
beautifully in blacked-out space.
The ridge, it’s composition said to be remains of busted-up moon covers eight hundred miles of the
equator, moving upwards, the mountains as high as 6 miles, wide 12 miles, enough to be noticed.
Dividing the equator-dilated, pole-squished natural satellite approximately into two equal parts,
eventually giving out the contours of a walnut.
Different theories regarding the formation of voyager mountains has been proposed throughout the
times, it gives rise to various answers including possibilities of formation by;
1.
2.
3.
4.
Fast orbital movement of Iapetus in former days, rather than 79 days orbit.
Deposition of material by Saturn’s rings.
Collision of meteorites into the natural satellite.
Extensional crack in the surface.
And the latest studies suggesting Iapetus moon crashed in Iapetus itself.
But the point remains constant, and that of the unlikely perfect symmetry, with no geological activities,
like volcanic eruptions or movement of tectonic plates. What does this suggest? Some other life form?
Old existence of other highly intelligent species?
A lot of applications can be proposed from the jaw-dropping structure, but it’s true purpose is what
scientists have been dying to find out, resulting in the Cassini aircraft.
Another, out of the normal characteristic of Iapetus is the anomalous inter fusion of black and white,
light with dark. Yin and yang, as it is said, existing simultaneously, along each other, an exception in all
one-hundred and sixty six natural satellite in our solar system. The physical origin has yet to be
explained, identified by Cassini himself in 1671, a true wonder of Saturn’s surrounding. Iapetus, the
moon fading for forty days of its orbital movements around Saturn, one completed in seventy nine days.
The white side, as shiny as our very own moon. The black side, as dark as the night sky. It’s components
are needed to be observed, because these are the things that extinguishes Iapetus from others. What it
once held, making the satellite dual-coloured, and divided by an ‘accidental’ ridge alarmingly perfect.
With the three major heavenly bodies in mind, it would be foolish, if Iapetus would not be preferred.
So many questions unanswered, and so many puzzles unsolved, the Ying-yang, Walnut-world, bizarre
two-toned satellite has countless mysteries to get noticed.