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Titan's Big Surprise
The Cassini flyby of Titan sent back the most detailed surface images, but the 1000 kilometer cloud formation near the south pole has scientists stumped. The convective plumes were thought to be methane clouds, but they're not.
The Cassini flyby of Titan sent back the most detailed surface images, but the 1000 kilometer cloud formation near the south pole has scientists stumped. The convective plumes were thought to be methane clouds, but they're not.
Lightning Bolts from Saturn
In orbit around Saturn for more than a month now, the Cassini spacecraft has been sending back mountains of scientific data. It's now detected flashes of lightning and a new radiation belt. The spacecraft's radio and plasma wave science instrument is detecting the lighting, which varies from day to day; a dramatically different situation from what the Voyagers found 20 years ago. The new radiation belt is just above Saturn's cloud tops and extends around the planet, yet the radiation particles are able to "jump over" the planet's rings.
In orbit around Saturn for more than a month now, the Cassini spacecraft has been sending back mountains of scientific data. It's now detected flashes of lightning and a new radiation belt. The spacecraft's radio and plasma wave science instrument is detecting the lighting, which varies from day to day; a dramatically different situation from what the Voyagers found 20 years ago. The new radiation belt is just above Saturn's cloud tops and extends around the planet, yet the radiation particles are able to "jump over" the planet's rings.
How Gas Giants Become Giants
Computer simulations of alternative pathways for forming gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn show that Saturn may have a rocky core while Jupiter may offer no surface underneath its thick clouds. The differences highlight two ways to make a gas giant in our solar system.
Computer simulations of alternative pathways for forming gas giants like Jupiter and Saturn show that Saturn may have a rocky core while Jupiter may offer no surface underneath its thick clouds. The differences highlight two ways to make a gas giant in our solar system.
Cassini Sails Flawlessly into Saturn's Orbit
The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft performed a flawless 96-minute engine burn Wednesday night and sailed into orbit around Saturn. During the next four years, Cassini will circle Saturn more than 75 times, conducting a detailed study of the planet and its moons and rings. In January, the spacecraft's Huygens probe will descend through the atmosphere of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn and a world high in astrobiological interest.
The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft performed a flawless 96-minute engine burn Wednesday night and sailed into orbit around Saturn. During the next four years, Cassini will circle Saturn more than 75 times, conducting a detailed study of the planet and its moons and rings. In January, the spacecraft's Huygens probe will descend through the atmosphere of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn and a world high in astrobiological interest.
Weather May Disrupt Cassini Signals
Everything looks good for Cassini to perform a successful maneuver that will bring it into orbit around Saturn late tonight. Everything, that is, except the weather. High winds in Canberra, Australia, and a chance of rain in Spain, although they won’t affect the success of the actual maneuver, could delay the receipt of a confirming signal back on Earth.
Everything looks good for Cassini to perform a successful maneuver that will bring it into orbit around Saturn late tonight. Everything, that is, except the weather. High winds in Canberra, Australia, and a chance of rain in Spain, although they won’t affect the success of the actual maneuver, could delay the receipt of a confirming signal back on Earth.
Cassini Closes In on Saturn
Cassini is poised to provide the most comprehensive set of images and other scientific data ever collected on the giant ringed planet Saturn. And its piggyback probe, Hugyens, should yield a wealth of new information on Saturn's moon Titan. But before the mission can begin exploring, it must first perform a critical maneuver.
Cassini is poised to provide the most comprehensive set of images and other scientific data ever collected on the giant ringed planet Saturn. And its piggyback probe, Hugyens, should yield a wealth of new information on Saturn's moon Titan. But before the mission can begin exploring, it must first perform a critical maneuver.
Cassini Saturn Orbit Insertion Timeline
Over the next few days, if the Cassini spacecraft achieves its next critical milestone, Saturn will capture it for at least a four-year mission. But if the orbital insertion doesn't succeed, the spacecraft flies past Saturn towards deep space.
Over the next few days, if the Cassini spacecraft achieves its next critical milestone, Saturn will capture it for at least a four-year mission. But if the orbital insertion doesn't succeed, the spacecraft flies past Saturn towards deep space.
Dawn to Dusk on Saturn
If one thing seems certain it is that the sun will rise again tomorrow. But on Saturn, the length of a day has become a matter of scientific dispute. To find an answer, scientists tuned their radio receivers to listen for the planet's periodic rhythms.
If one thing seems certain it is that the sun will rise again tomorrow. But on Saturn, the length of a day has become a matter of scientific dispute. To find an answer, scientists tuned their radio receivers to listen for the planet's periodic rhythms.
Saturn: The Closest Pass
Not for two decades have planetary scientists been this close to Saturn. When the Cassini probe enters Saturn's orbital grip, its instrument suite will help discover the planet's rotation rate and magnetic properties.
Not for two decades have planetary scientists been this close to Saturn. When the Cassini probe enters Saturn's orbital grip, its instrument suite will help discover the planet's rotation rate and magnetic properties.
Seven Years to Saturn
Nearing the culmination of its seven-year voyage to Saturn, the Cassini space probe officially entered the orbit of the outer planet on May 18. Returning new pictures of a dark spot and high, thick clouds hint at more mysteries to come. What lies beneath the clouds on Saturn and its shrouded moon Titan will occupy planetary scientist as the mission unfolds.
Nearing the culmination of its seven-year voyage to Saturn, the Cassini space probe officially entered the orbit of the outer planet on May 18. Returning new pictures of a dark spot and high, thick clouds hint at more mysteries to come. What lies beneath the clouds on Saturn and its shrouded moon Titan will occupy planetary scientist as the mission unfolds.