Cassini Approaches Saturn
Explanation:
Cassini, a
robot spacecraft
launched in 1997 by
NASA,
is close enough now to resolve many
rings and
moons of its destination planet:
Saturn.
The spacecraft has now
closed to within a single
Earth-Sun separation from the
ringed giant.
Early last month,
Cassini snapped the contrast-enhanced color composite
pictured above.
Many features of Saturn's rings and
cloud-tops now show considerable
detail.
When arriving at Saturn in July 2004, the
Cassini orbiter will begin to circle and study
the Saturnian system.
Several months later, a
probe named Huygens will separate and attempt to land on the
surface of
Titan.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
