Cassini-Huygens Mission News
Launched from Kennedy Space Center on Oct. 15, 1997, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft will reach the Saturnian region in July 2004. The mission is composed of two elements: The Cassini orbiter that will orbit Saturn and its moons for four years, and the Huygens probe that will dive into the murky atmosphere of Titan and land on its surface.
Cassini Discovers Potential Liquid Water on Enceladus
NASA's Cassini spacecraft may have found evidence of liquid water reservoirs that erupt in Yellowstone-like geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus. The rare occurrence of liquid water so near the surface raises many new questions about the mysterious moon.
NASA's Cassini spacecraft may have found evidence of liquid water reservoirs that erupt in Yellowstone-like geysers on Saturn's moon Enceladus. The rare occurrence of liquid water so near the surface raises many new questions about the mysterious moon.
Titan Shows Evidence of Earth-like Processes
On 14 January, 2005 ESA's Huygens probe made an historic 1st ever descent to the surface of Titan, 1.2 billion kilometres from Earth & the largest of Saturn's moons. Huygens travelled to Titan as part of the joint ESA/NASA/ASI Cassini-Huygens mission. Starting at about 150 km altitude, six multi-function instruments on board Huygens recorded data during the descent & on the surface. The 1st scientific assessments of Huygens' data were presented during a press conference at ESA office on 1/21.
On 14 January, 2005 ESA's Huygens probe made an historic 1st ever descent to the surface of Titan, 1.2 billion kilometres from Earth & the largest of Saturn's moons. Huygens travelled to Titan as part of the joint ESA/NASA/ASI Cassini-Huygens mission. Starting at about 150 km altitude, six multi-function instruments on board Huygens recorded data during the descent & on the surface. The 1st scientific assessments of Huygens' data were presented during a press conference at ESA office on 1/21.
First Close Encounter of Saturn's Hazy Moon Titan - Cassini-Huygens Mission Status Report
Long hidden behind a thick veil of haze, Titan, the only known moon with an atmosphere, is ready for its close-up on Oct. 26, 2004. This visit by the Cassini spacecraft may settle intense speculation about whether this moon of Saturn harbors oceans of liquid methane and ethane beneath its coat of clouds.
Long hidden behind a thick veil of haze, Titan, the only known moon with an atmosphere, is ready for its close-up on Oct. 26, 2004. This visit by the Cassini spacecraft may settle intense speculation about whether this moon of Saturn harbors oceans of liquid methane and ethane beneath its coat of clouds.
Cassini Uncovers Two New Saturn Moons - Out from the Shadows: Two New Saturn Moons
With eyes sharper than any that have peered at Saturn before, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft has uncovered two new Saturn moons, which may be the smallest bodies so far seen around the ringed planet. The two new Saturn moons are approximately 3 kilometers (2 miles) and 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) across. First new Saturn moons discovered in a long time.
With eyes sharper than any that have peered at Saturn before, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft has uncovered two new Saturn moons, which may be the smallest bodies so far seen around the ringed planet. The two new Saturn moons are approximately 3 kilometers (2 miles) and 4 kilometers (2.5 miles) across. First new Saturn moons discovered in a long time.
Frigid Ringworld - Cassini-Huygens Mission Image
A frigid ball of gas in the blackness of space, Cassini's new home, Saturn, appears cool and serene in this natural color image. The spacecraft obtained this view as it sped outward from the planet on its initial orbit. At the left, Saturn's shadow stretches almost completely across the rings, while at the right, the planet's illuminated face appears to gaze down at the far-off Sun.
A frigid ball of gas in the blackness of space, Cassini's new home, Saturn, appears cool and serene in this natural color image. The spacecraft obtained this view as it sped outward from the planet on its initial orbit. At the left, Saturn's shadow stretches almost completely across the rings, while at the right, the planet's illuminated face appears to gaze down at the far-off Sun.
Entering the Magnetic Bubble - Cassini-Huygens Mission Image
This graph illustrates the Cassini spacecraft's transition into Saturn's magnetosphere from an outer region called the magnetosheath. A magnetosphere is a magnetic envelope of charged particles that surrounds some planets, including Earth. In between it and a boundary called the bow shock -- where solar winds bend to avoid the magnetosphere -- is an area called the magnetosheath.
This graph illustrates the Cassini spacecraft's transition into Saturn's magnetosphere from an outer region called the magnetosheath. A magnetosphere is a magnetic envelope of charged particles that surrounds some planets, including Earth. In between it and a boundary called the bow shock -- where solar winds bend to avoid the magnetosphere -- is an area called the magnetosheath.
Saturn Pictures - Cassini-Huygens Mission Pictures
Launched from Kennedy Space Center on Oct. 15, 1997, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft reached Saturn in July 2004. The mission is composed of two elements: The Cassini orbiter that will orbit Saturn and its moons for four years, and the Huygens probe that will dive into the murky atmosphere of Titan and land on its surface. The sophisticated instruments onboard these spacecraft will provide scientists with vital data to help understand this mysterious, vast region.
Launched from Kennedy Space Center on Oct. 15, 1997, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft reached Saturn in July 2004. The mission is composed of two elements: The Cassini orbiter that will orbit Saturn and its moons for four years, and the Huygens probe that will dive into the murky atmosphere of Titan and land on its surface. The sophisticated instruments onboard these spacecraft will provide scientists with vital data to help understand this mysterious, vast region.
Saturn South Polar Structure - Cassini-Huygens Mission Image
Saturn's southern polar region exhibits concentric rings of clouds which encircle a dark spot at the pole. To the north and toward the right, wavy patterns are evident, resulting from the atmosphere moving with different speeds at different latitudes.
Saturn's southern polar region exhibits concentric rings of clouds which encircle a dark spot at the pole. To the north and toward the right, wavy patterns are evident, resulting from the atmosphere moving with different speeds at different latitudes.
Entering Saturn's Magnetosphere with a Boom - Cassini-Huygens Mission Image
This graph illustrates the series of sonic booms that took place when the Cassini spacecraft crossed Saturn's bow shock. A bow shock is a shock wave located where incoming solar wind meets a planet's magnetosphere, or magnetic bubble. Differences in electrical charges cause the solar wind to curve around the magnetosphere in the same way that air flows around a supersonic airplane.
This graph illustrates the series of sonic booms that took place when the Cassini spacecraft crossed Saturn's bow shock. A bow shock is a shock wave located where incoming solar wind meets a planet's magnetosphere, or magnetic bubble. Differences in electrical charges cause the solar wind to curve around the magnetosphere in the same way that air flows around a supersonic airplane.
Cassini Exposes Puzzles About Ingredients in Saturn's Rings - Cassini-Huygens Picture
Just two days after the Cassini spacecraft entered Saturn orbit, preliminary science results are already beginning to show a complex and fascinating planetary system. Cassini Exposes Puzzles About Ingredients in Saturn's Rings - Cassini-Huygens Picture.
Just two days after the Cassini spacecraft entered Saturn orbit, preliminary science results are already beginning to show a complex and fascinating planetary system. Cassini Exposes Puzzles About Ingredients in Saturn's Rings - Cassini-Huygens Picture.
Cassini-Huygens mission Image - Phoebe's Surprise - Cassini-Huygens Photograph of Saturn's Moon Phoebe
Phoebe delivers on its promise to reveal new wonders to Cassini by showing probable evidence of an ice-rich body overlain with a thin layer of dark material. The sharply-defined crater at above center exhibits two or more layers of alternating bright and dark material. Cassini-Huygens mission Image - Phoebe's Surprise - Cassini-Huygens Photograph of Saturn's Moon Phoebe.
Phoebe delivers on its promise to reveal new wonders to Cassini by showing probable evidence of an ice-rich body overlain with a thin layer of dark material. The sharply-defined crater at above center exhibits two or more layers of alternating bright and dark material. Cassini-Huygens mission Image - Phoebe's Surprise - Cassini-Huygens Photograph of Saturn's Moon Phoebe.
Bands of Clouds and Lace - Cassini-Huygens Mission Image
As Cassini nears its rendezvous with Saturn, new detail in the banded clouds of the planet's atmosphere are becoming visible. Cassini's narrow-angle camera took this image on April 16, 2004, when the spacecraft was 38.5 million kilometers (23.9 million miles) from Saturn.
As Cassini nears its rendezvous with Saturn, new detail in the banded clouds of the planet's atmosphere are becoming visible. Cassini's narrow-angle camera took this image on April 16, 2004, when the spacecraft was 38.5 million kilometers (23.9 million miles) from Saturn.
The Veils of Titan - Cassini-Huygens Mission Image
The veils of Saturn's most mysterious moon have begun to lift in Cassini's eagerly awaited first glimpse of the surface of Titan, a world where scientists believe organic matter rains from hazy skies and seas of liquid hydrocarbons dot a frigid surface. May 7 2004.
The veils of Saturn's most mysterious moon have begun to lift in Cassini's eagerly awaited first glimpse of the surface of Titan, a world where scientists believe organic matter rains from hazy skies and seas of liquid hydrocarbons dot a frigid surface. May 7 2004.
Cassini-Huygens Mission Image - Saturn in Color
Saturn and its rings completely fill the field of view of Cassini's narrow angle camera in this natural color image taken on March 27, 2004. This is the last single %u2018eyeful%u2019 of Saturn and its rings achievable with the narrow angle camera on approach to the planet. From now until orbit insertion, Saturn and its rings will be larger than the field of view of the narrow angle camera.
Saturn and its rings completely fill the field of view of Cassini's narrow angle camera in this natural color image taken on March 27, 2004. This is the last single %u2018eyeful%u2019 of Saturn and its rings achievable with the narrow angle camera on approach to the planet. From now until orbit insertion, Saturn and its rings will be larger than the field of view of the narrow angle camera.
Cassini Captures Jupiter In Close-Up Portrait
Jupiter, our solar system's most massive planet, has been captured in the most detailed global color view ever seen, courtesy of NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Cassini acquired the view during its closet approach to the gas giant while en route to its final destination, Saturn.
Jupiter, our solar system's most massive planet, has been captured in the most detailed global color view ever seen, courtesy of NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Cassini acquired the view during its closet approach to the gas giant while en route to its final destination, Saturn.
Cassini Captures Jupiter In Close-Up Portrait
Jupiter, our solar system's most massive planet, has been captured in the most detailed global color view ever seen, courtesy of NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Cassini acquired the view during its closet approach to the gas giant while en route to its final destination, Saturn.
Jupiter, our solar system's most massive planet, has been captured in the most detailed global color view ever seen, courtesy of NASA's Cassini spacecraft. Cassini acquired the view during its closet approach to the gas giant while en route to its final destination, Saturn.