Cassini - is it just me who's excited?

[remcook]

appraoch science phase started!

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewsr.html?pid=11554

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=13430

[smich]

Rem, those links don't work for me?

Not much going on at the Cassini site either - I wish they'd give the media a "latest pic" from the craft. Now would be a good time!

Steve M

[remcook]

the links work here...maybe try again?

[skyejim]

Woo-Hoo!

This is stunning!



Larger formats available at the JPL website!

Jim

[skyejim]

The details in the full-size jpeg are gorgeous!

You see the shadow of the planet on the rings, the shadow of the rings on the planet, the planet through the Cassini Division, and if you look carefully, you realize that you can see the bottom edge of the ring shadow on the cloud tops even through the A ring!

Tons of other subtle detail in the rings and the belts of the cloud tops as well.  

Link to full size JPEG:

http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/jpeg/PIA05380.jpg

Just four months to orbit insertion!

Jim

[remcook]

http://marsrovers.jpl.nasa.gov/gallery/all/1/f/034/1F131212520EDN0500P1141R0M1.HTML

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press-releases-04/20040227-pr-a.cfm

They expect weekly pictures like that, so you can actually see the Cassini closing in!!

Man, I hope SOI goes well, and not just because of interest...(this remark may become clear later)

[smich]

Absolutely beautiful  

Saturn is now 60% bigger to Cassini than in the pic released from November!

Imagine in another month...two months....

The Mars Rovers have been interesting, workmanlike even and now the interest of the public wanes a little. Aside from the science, the Cassini mission will, I believe, re-introduce us to the majesty of space. Pics like this are just the start


Steve M

[remcook]

New picture

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/cgibin/gs2.cgi?path=../multimedia/images/saturn/images/PIA05381.jpg&type=image

[remcook]

since the old one doesn't update anymore...

[remcook]

The Cassini website (saturn.jpl.nasa.gov) has a new picture every week  [smiley=beatnik2.gif]

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/cgibin/gs2.cgi?path=../multimedia/images/rings/images/PIA05382.jpg&type=image

[Astronuc]

The images are stunning. It reminds me of the time during the winter of 1977 or 1978, when I looked at Saturn through an 18-inch telescope as part of astrophysics class. The plane of rings were tilted toward earth. I felt that I could reach out and hold Saturn in my hand.

It's nice to see that 17 nations and 200 scientists collaborate on such a project.

[remcook]

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/cgibin/gs2.cgi?path=../multimedia/images/saturn/images/PIA05383.jpg&type=image

[remcook]

this time the image of the week is a movie. Imagine what it could do once it is in orbit!

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/cgibin/gs2.cgi?path=../multimedia/images/saturn/images/PIA05384.gif&type=image

[remcook]

http://www.spaceref.com/news/viewpr.html?pid=13970

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/cgibin/gs2.cgi?path=../multimedia/images/saturn/images/PIA05385.jpg&type=image

http://www.saturntoday.com/

[remcook]

http://www.spaceflightnow.com/news/n0404/05titanshadow/

it's coming closer very quickly!