Experts are shocked: the egg is absolutely smooth 
Photos from open sources
An amazing photo was transmitted to Earth by the NASA Cassini probe (NASA’s Cassini spacecraft), which now flies in the rings of Saturn. The spacecraft was first shot at close range Metonu is a satellite of the giant planet.
In the picture, Metona appears as an egg. And this is not a play of light and shadow, but real satellite shape. If you measure along the major axis, you get 3 kilometers. Not enough for a satellite. But for the egg – wow!
Experts are puzzled not only by the shape of the satellite, but also by its surface. It is absolutely smooth. Like a shell. It should be all pitted with craters and other irregularities.
Cassini Science Team Representative Peter Thomas (Cassini team member Peter Thomas) from Cornell University in Ithaca (Cornell University in Ithaca, New York) – suggests Metona made of some kind of light and malleable material that is capable of tighten damage.
Thomas and colleagues estimated the specific gravity of the satellite material. It turned out about 300 kilograms per cubic meter. The egg is lighter water. In other words, if it turned out to be on Earth and in the ocean, then would swim.
A photo from open sources
We managed to make out the tiny point of Metona in the image from the probe Cassini in 2004 Photo: NASA
A photo from open sources
Metona turned out to be an egg with a smooth as a shell surface Photo: NASA
Solving the mystery of the cosmic egg will soon fail. Or maybe maybe not work out at all. Cassini’s flight path is such that he will not be next to Metona. In 2017, the mission of the apparatus will be discontinued. A new one is unlikely to begin.
REFERENCE KP
All Saturn’s Eggs
Saturn’s satellite of Meton (Mephon), aka S / 2004 S, aka Saturn XXXII, was opened in 2004. He was found in the images of the probe Cassini Named January 21, 2005 from ancient Greek mythology. Metona (Mefona) – one of the seven alkionides, daughter of a giant Alkionea.
Metona is one of Saturn’s 62 moons. But not his only egg. There are two more: Pallina and Egeon. Pallina across 4 kilometers. Egeon – a very small egg by cosmic standards – just 500 meters across. These eggs have not yet been photographed with close range. Vladimir Lagovsky
NASA Saturn
