When Moons Collide?
The Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn continues to dazzle us with high-detail images. The latest of these can ben seen at right: two of the planet's larger moons, Dione and Tethys, appear near collision as Cassini gazes across the plane of Saturn's rings.While this is a striking photograph, it should be remembered that while it is cool to see two moons apparently so near one another (and I believe that several hundred thousand kilometers separate them in the image), these guys aren't nearly the most interesting pair. I give that award to Epimetheus and Janus, whose orbits are so close together that they actually swap places every four years or so.
I'm no scientist, but I have to think that Cassini is more than delivering on its potential. I mean, do you want to hear what it sounds like on the surface of Titan? How cool is that?
It's interesting to reflect that the controversy surrounding Cassini's launch (regarding concerns over the probe's radioisotope thermoelectric generators) have been long forgotten. At least until the next probe is launched.
Tags: Saturn Cassini Photo Photography Astronomy Moon Moons Plutonium Nasa
posted by Jeff at 10:33 AM
1 Comments:
Cassini has been doing wonderful work. It was expensive, but the amount of data sent back has been many times what less expensive craft have done. Overall, it was a good price. Understanding the other planets helps us understand Earth's place in the Solar System, and to understand Earth itself better. That is important, since this is the only planet in the Solar System capable of supporting human life.
Oh, and as for radiothermal generators, ALL probes to the outer solar system have been similarly powered. Interestingly, though, a large number of the old Soviet Union's Earth orbiting spacecraft were also similarly powered. There are so many old RTGs in orbit around Earth that they interfere with our X-ray and Gamma ray astronomy satellites. Also, two of these devices (that I know of) have reentered the atmosphere. As I recall, both of the ones that I have heard about landed in Canada.
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