Saturn images - Cassini

[MartG]

jmorgan said:

funkyrobot said:

Cassini should be doing the first ring dive now. Hope it goes ok. We won't know until around 8am tomorrow.

Out of contact now. For a short while.

Yes - reoriented to use its main comms antenna as a shield

[durbster]

Squiggly lines are back, so Cassini survived the dive.

[jmorgan]

durbster said:

Squiggly lines are back, so Cassini survived the dive.

https://eyes.nasa.gov/dsn/dsn.html

99.5kbs. Cracking stuff.

[funkyrobot]

jmorgan said:

durbster said:

Squiggly lines are back, so Cassini survived the dive.

https://eyes.nasa.gov/dsn/dsn.html

99.5kbs. Cracking stuff.

[jmorgan]

Some images coming in. Someone pulled the plug out.
https://twitter.com/CassiniSaturn
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/raw_images/412656/
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

[funkyrobot]

Amazing stuff.

I know the poor bugger is set to be crashed in September. However, wouldn't it be great if they could get a picture from within the atmosphere of Saturn before it dies.

I guess it could be nigh on impossible though due to the environment etc.

[Eric Mc]

Cassini doesn't have a heatshield - so it will start melting and disintegrating within minutes, if not seconds, of its first encounter with the atmosphere.

Also, during atmospheric entry, even if the craft held up, transmitting of radio signals is blacked out by the ionisation and plasma sheath that builds up around the craft during entry.

By the time Cassini emerges from the blackout - all that will be left of it will be carbonised dust.

[funkyrobot]

Thanks Eric.

Thought as much.

[Eric Mc]

Nice little video of Cassini's final few months -

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3mE2sKHbw5M

[jmorgan]

Big empty
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/3034/cassini-find...

Not ad much dust as feared.

[durbster]

Another beautiful photo from Cassini - PROMETHEUS INVADING F RING:

[jmorgan]

Speaking of which
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/7718/?catego...

Just finished 17 of 22 inner passes. Not long now.

[jmorgan]

Not long now

https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/galleries/images/

Been looking at Titan again. Last look I think.

[jmorgan]

Holy heck. The thin haze was highlighted a few passes ago but.......
Image Credit
NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/7721/

[jmorgan]

15 September it does its dive.

Meanwhile, crossing rings.
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/7751/

[funkyrobot]

jmorgan said:

15 September it does its dive.

Meanwhile, crossing rings.
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/7751/

[Einion Yrth]

Going to miss Cassini; a bloody brilliant mission. Sad face.

[jmorgan]

9 days.
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov

[jmorgan]

5
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov

About to take a final spin around Titan.

[jmorgan]

1 day to go
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov

Ride it down
https://eyes.nasa.gov

Last look at Titan
Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute


Edit. Look out Saturn, here I come.....

Edited by jmorgan on Thursday 14th September 10:41