Titan image from Cassini two days from flyby (Oct. 23); flyby T-17 hours

SpaceRef ^ | 10/25/2004 | JPL

[FierceDraka]

Can you figure out which continent we are looking at?

Antarctica, definitely. The eastern edge of Australia near the terminator.

[xp38]

If it is so interesting why doesn't NASA or whoever plans these unmanned missions have something inserted into orbit around Titan? These one shot flybys only yield a quick glimpse and if I recall the first one only got a cloud shot and all the astronomers were in a deep funk because they had hoped to be able to see more.

[MikeD]

There is a probe scheduled to land on Titan next year. As for orbiting Titan, we'd love to. There are a number of proposals for outer planet orbiters. Unfortunately, the money hasn't come through yet. Unless you can think of an independently wealthy person who wants to front half a billion for an orbiter mission.

[RadioAstronomer]

I'll be there! Thanks for the ping. :-)

[xp38]

Thanks for the info.

[cogitator]

If it is so interesting why doesn't NASA or whoever plans these unmanned missions have something inserted into orbit around Titan?

MikeD provided a nice answer, but Cassini is in orbit around Saturn and will study the entire system. Titan is a prime target and will be "flown by" several times. Cassini is not like the Voyagers or Pioneers, just flying by once on the way to interstellar space.

[50sDad]

Sirens of Titan
Al Stewart

I was drawn by the sirens of Titan
Carried along by their call
Seeking for a way to enlighten
Searching for the sense of it all
Like a kiss on the wind I was thrown to the stars
Captured and ordered in the army of Mars
Marching to the sound of the drum in my head
I followed the call

Only to be Malachi Constant
I thought I came to this earth
Living in the heart of the moment
With the riches I gained at my birth
But here in the yellow and blue of my days
I wander the endless Mercurian caves
Watching for the signs the Harmonians make
The words on the walls

I was drawn by the sirens of Titan
And so I came in the end
Under the shadow of Saturn
With statues and birds for my friends
Finding a home at the end of my days
Looking around I've only to say
I was the victim of a series of accidents
As are we all

I was drawn by the sirens of Titan (as are we all)
As are we all
I was drawn by the sirens of Titan (as are we all)
As are we all...

[Moonman62]

Cassini is like the Galileo probe which toured the Jupiter system for a number of years, and which most people have completely forgotten, if they ever knew about it in the first place.

[cogitator]

Cassini is like the Galileo probe which toured the Jupiter system for a number of years, and which most people have completely forgotten, if they ever knew about it in the first place.

True. Unfortunately, Galileo was probably more famous for almost not working (due to the unfurled antenna) than for working as well and as long as it did.