Astronomy
That's what NASA is announcing about their Cassini mission. Today, on June 30, Cassini is ending its primary mission, lasting for four years. But Cassini is not done with Saturn and its moons. There is still much too left to learn about Saturn, and the primary mission was just the start.
- Saturn's Approach To Equinox Reveals New Detail In Rings
Towering vertical structures in Saturn?s rings have been discerned for the first time by Cassini as the giant planet approaches equinox. Equinox defines the exact moment when the Sun is seen directly overhead at noon at a planet?s equator, and occurs...
- Cassini Finds Titan's Clouds Hang On To Summer
Cloud chasers studying Saturn's moon Titan say its clouds form and move much like those on Earth, but in a much slower, more lingering fashion. Their forecast for Titan's early autumn -- warm and wetter. Scientists with NASA's Cassini mission...
- Equinox On Saturn
About every 15 Earth years, Saturn?s experiences an equinox, much like Earth?s equinox. On Earth it occurs twice in Earth?s orbit?two times every Earth year?when the Sun lies in the Earth?s equatorial plane. As a result, the duration of day and night...
- Tracing Saturn
Image: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute Looking at this picture just blew me away. It is so simple, yet is able to reveal Saturn's unique shape immediately. The picture was taken by the Cassini spacecraft, currently orbiting Saturn, on February 13,...
- The Seas Of Titan
The Cassini Spacecraft has been orbiting Saturn for some time now, but recently, it has found seas on one of Saturn's moon, Titan, the second largest moon in the solar system. The dark features, caught by Cassini's radar instrument are found near...
Astronomy
"Mission Accomplished, but New Questions Await!"
That's what NASA is announcing about their Cassini mission. Today, on June 30, Cassini is ending its primary mission, lasting for four years. But Cassini is not done with Saturn and its moons. There is still much too left to learn about Saturn, and the primary mission was just the start.
Now, Cassini starts a new journey, with a new two-year mission. This extended mission, called the Cassini Equinox Mission, was approved in April. After Cassini unleashed new information about Saturn's moons Titan and Enceladus, these two moons became the prime targets for te extended mission. The mission will also focus on the seasonal effects on Titan and Saturn, and looking and analyzing the geometry of the rings of Saturn during the Saturn equinox in August 2009, when sunlight will pass directly through the plane of the the rings.
Find out more about Cassini at NASA and JPL.
Image from NASA/JPL.
- Saturn's Approach To Equinox Reveals New Detail In Rings
Towering vertical structures in Saturn?s rings have been discerned for the first time by Cassini as the giant planet approaches equinox. Equinox defines the exact moment when the Sun is seen directly overhead at noon at a planet?s equator, and occurs...
- Cassini Finds Titan's Clouds Hang On To Summer
Cloud chasers studying Saturn's moon Titan say its clouds form and move much like those on Earth, but in a much slower, more lingering fashion. Their forecast for Titan's early autumn -- warm and wetter. Scientists with NASA's Cassini mission...
- Equinox On Saturn
About every 15 Earth years, Saturn?s experiences an equinox, much like Earth?s equinox. On Earth it occurs twice in Earth?s orbit?two times every Earth year?when the Sun lies in the Earth?s equatorial plane. As a result, the duration of day and night...
- Tracing Saturn
Image: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute Looking at this picture just blew me away. It is so simple, yet is able to reveal Saturn's unique shape immediately. The picture was taken by the Cassini spacecraft, currently orbiting Saturn, on February 13,...
- The Seas Of Titan
The Cassini Spacecraft has been orbiting Saturn for some time now, but recently, it has found seas on one of Saturn's moon, Titan, the second largest moon in the solar system. The dark features, caught by Cassini's radar instrument are found near...