Cassini captures pieces of Saturn’s rings The soon-to-die Cassini probe has captured tiny fragments of Saturn’s rings. Cassini’s was launched in 1997, made it to Saturn in 2004 and has been there ever since. But the probe is running out of fuel and will be crashed into the gas giant in September 2017, in order to avoid possible contamination of potentially-life-bearing …
So lots of little boulders then?
I remember the excitement on The Sky At Night in the '90s before Cassini was launched, it promised so much of interest for science, and to tell us more about the system we live in.
20 years and still producing good science!
Once again, a probe has done so much more than could have been expected of it, beers all round for the team I think.
What, cold and rainy with tea and scones at 4pm?
This tedious inaccurate stereotypical portrayal of England is boringly predictable and something for which I will not stand.
Tea is at 4:30pm.
(Alternate punchline: "Sometimes it's just rainy")
what exactly ought to be considered as 'a day'?
A very good question that has baffled planetologists and astronomers for some time. There are currently three dominant, numbered schemes for calculating Saturn's day.
Furthermore, why is it significant?
Day length - or, rather, rotational speed - impacts a lot of Saturn's characteristics. Almost any model of Saturn's atmospheric circulation is dependent on rotation (by way of Coriolis force), as are models of its interior (since rotation has rendered Saturn distinctly non-spherical). Because Saturn's magnetic field rotates with the planet, rotation also impacts its moons through various mechanisms, like the way Enceladus's plumes interact with the planetary magnetic field.
If you're interested in such details about Saturn, day length is significant.
"NASA need to take a leaf out of the "English rules of Empire"
A day on Saturn is therefore the same as a day in England"
No it isn't.
You have plant a flag first.
The Cassini-Huygens mission just keeps on giving. I remember being thrilled by the descent on the Huygens probe onto Titan, and then there are all the data the Cassini orbiter has given. I love the way the scientists and engineers work tirelessly to get the most out of these missions, even from the final crash. Excellent example of international collaboration too
Watching that last orbit.
The last several years have been an amazing time for humanity getting to know it's neighbours. Cassini, Mars Rovers and orbiters from all over, New Horizons, the Mercury mission and Venus trip. We'll be 'dancing on the edge of the sun' next. And the voyagers.
I saw 2001 ASO in the theatre when it was released. I got to watch 2 lunar landings on TV. I watched pretty much every single shuttle launch. I've gotta admit 'may you live in interesting times' has a *whole* bunch of different interpretations, but I think in the 'stretching our knowledge' I've gotten to see some seriously interesting s&&t. And, sadly, some seriously s&&tty stuff too.
Have an up Hollerithevo, absolutely agree.
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