Cassini Begins Final Approach Phase (4 months out): New Image Released

SpaceRef.com ^ | February 27, 2004 | Space Science Institute

[cogitator]

New NASA Cassini Image of Saturn Released

The narrow angle camera onboard the Cassini spacecraft took a series of exposures of Saturn and its rings and moons on February 9, 2004, which were composited to create this stunning, color image. At the time, Cassini was 69.4 million kilometers (43.1 million miles) from Saturn, less than half the distance from Earth to the Sun. The image contrast and colors have been slightly enhanced to aid visibility. The smallest features visible in this image are approximately 540 kilometers across (336 miles).

Fine details in the rings and atmosphere are beginning to emerge, and will grow in sharpness and clarity over the coming months. The optical thickness of Saturn's B (middle) ring and the comparative translucence of the A (outer) ring, when seen against the planet, are now apparent. Subtle color differences in the finely banded Saturnian atmosphere, as well as structure within the diaphanous, inner C ring can be easily seen. Noticeably absent are the ghostly spoke-like dark markings in Saturn's B ring, first discovered by NASA's Voyager spacecraft on approach to the planet 23 years ago.

The icy moon Enceladus (520 kilometers or 323 miles across) is faintly visible on the left in the image. Its brightness has been increased seven times relative to the planet. Cassini will make several very close approaches to Enceladus, returning images in which features as small as 50 meters (31 miles) or less will be detectable.

The composite image signals the start of Cassini's final approach to the ringed planet and the beginning of monitoring and data collection on Saturn and its environment. This phase of the mission will continue until Cassini enters orbit around Saturn on July 1, 2004. The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Cassini mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C.

For more information, see the Cassini home page, http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov and the Cassini imaging team home page, http://ciclops.org . The imaging team is based at the Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colo.

For larger versions, go the linked article and links in that article.

[cogitator]

Open a hailing frequency to Saturn, Uhura.

[George from New England]

Awe heck, Scotty, just beam us down there!

[martin_fierro]

Dig it.

[cripplecreek]

Really kind of awe inspiring when you consider the speed of the spacecraft, the distance to the planet, and the size of the planet in the image.

[r9etb]

Really kind of awe inspiring when you consider the speed of the spacecraft, the distance to the planet, and the size of the planet in the image.

What's amazing to me is that power of the downlink at the antenna is equivalent to the amount of light from a lit match, as seen from 100 miles (or something like that).

[alnitak]

From the "Where is Cassini now"? web page

[Dr. Thorne]

What hath God wrought?

[mvpel]

I remember joining with a group of demonstrators in front of the White House seven years ago, "Freeping" a protest against Cassini's launch due to its plutonium-ceramic battery.

It's so gratifying to finally be here, four months out from arrival.

[mvpel]

Wait 'till you see the orbital insertion pictures - it's going to fly right past the rings on July 1. (It's a Quicktime movie.)

[Aracelis]

Ping!

[cogitator]

Awe heck, Scotty, just beam us down there!

(Scottish accent on) I'm going to need a lot more power, Cap'n, or you'll just get lost in the rings! (Scottish accent off)

[cogitator]

THAT is going to be very cool -- and that engine better fire!

[RossA]

Saturn's shadow cast on the rings! Great picture!

[B-Chan]

God makes such prettty toys.

[DoctorMichael]

Cool! US space and robotic technology marches on.

Bttt

[Starrgaizr]

My signature and those of my oldest two kids were scanned and placed on a CD aboard Cassini about eight years ago, along with thousands of other people. Pretty cool that it is finally nearing Saturn.

[Constitution Day]

Very cool.

[cogitator]

My signature and those of my oldest two kids were scanned and placed on a CD aboard Cassini about eight years ago, along with thousands of other people. Pretty cool that it is finally nearing Saturn.

I think I have my name on NEAR -- I know I put it on one of those missions!

[theDentist]

And it's astounding that if the satellite drives straight into the Saturn, it will pop like an overinflated balloon.

:-)

[George from New England]

I've spent hours playing with the Solar System Simulator at the link ... NASA JPL web site.

Great toy. Learning a lot.

Can anybody get it to work with the years 1998, 1999, or 2000? It seems to error in just that year range.

http://space.jpl.nasa.gov/