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Cassini's Got Pictures And Data

Posted by Zonk on from the mmmm-data dept.

MythMoth writes "To celebrate the anniversary of the Cassini-Huygens probe's orbital insertion, NASA's JPL has a set of fifteen amazing photos from the past year. Meanwhile, the BBC reports that some of the latest science data from the mission reveals that Saturn's ring system has its own (thin) O2 atmosphere, and that the planet's rotation seems to be slowing!"

4 of 109 comments (clear)

  1. Can't wait for the video. by frostman · · Score: 3, Interesting

    I hope one day we get high-definition video from these missions.

    Imagine something like the the descent panorama but in the IMAX and later on your big fat TV.

    --

    This Like That - fun with words!

  2. Great stuff by Robotron23 · · Score: 5, Interesting

    One of the most intriguing of all the photos is likely the one of the moon Iapetus. While the other photos beautifully capture images of Titan and Saturn itself, the real object of intrigue is the geological formation on Iapetus. Near its equator theres a huge topographic ridge, which gives the moon a really unusual appearance.

    Was anyone else struck by how Titan seems very similar to Mars on its surface shot? Lots of small rocks and boulders laying around its surface and a general haze present etc etc.

  3. Cheap planet by AndroidCat · · Score: 5, Interesting
    Imagine a planet losing seven minutes over a couple decades! If they look closely, they'll probably see that it's really a S4turn and God bought a cheap knock-off from a sidewalk vendor.

    They did say that they might not be measuring it right. Still, between the swirly fluid mass of the planet, the moon system, magnetic field and whatnot, if they're correct, it would be interesting to see where Saturn's hiding all the angular momentum.

    --
    One line blog. I hear that they're called Twitters now.
  4. Best picture not in list, unfortunately by Thagg · · Score: 3, Interesting

    Of the pictures they have to choose from, I have to go for the pic of Iapetus. It's by far the most shocking of the pictures -- the girdling ridge around Iapetus' equator is just too weird to believe.

    But, my favorite Cassini picture is this one, of the rings edge on. Here you can see a perfectly straight line, almost a quarter of a million miles long. Where else in the universe can you see such a thing?

    Thad Beier

    --
    I love Mondays. On a Monday, anything is possible.