Cassini probe sights moon target (Titan) | BBC

[Ediacara]

Cassini probe sights moon target


Xanadu appears as the
brightest surface feature

The Cassini-Huygens mission has caught sight of Saturn's largest moon, Titan.

The first images of the object, which is believed to support oily lakes and seas, pick out broad features previously seen by Earth telescopes.

Over the next two months, the cameras on Cassini will take progressively more detailed pictures of a surface that is shrouded by a very thick atmosphere.

In January, the Huygens probe will be released and plunge down on to Titan - perhaps to splash down in a sea.

The moon is nearly the size of Mercury at 5,100km (3,200 miles) across.

The images were taken in mid-April, from a distance of more than 40m km.

More at the BBC


Saturn viewed through the narrow angle camera on
the Cassini spacecraft. The image is taken from a
distance of 48 million km (30 million miles). It
is a composite of three exposures, in red, green
and blue. Each pixel represents 286km (178 miles).
(Image: Nasa/JPL)

[proud patriot]

1. Cool thanks for posting

I look forward to more

[teryang]

2. Wonderful post

great image of Saturn!


I received a somewhat low powered telescope as a gift some time ago and never used it. Lately, I started using it, as there were several visible planets in the western sky. When I first saw saturn, it blew my mind, even though, I couldn't distinguish the bands in the ring. If I remember correctly, it was something like 900,000,000 miles away.

I watch Jupiter quite a bit with the moons always changing position. I've only been able to see four. I wonder what power (and diameter?) telescope I would need to see Saturn more clearly.

[MikeG]

3. Are you sure that's not matcom's ass?

[fallenwood]

4. Great pic's Thanks

one word WOW !

[newyawker99]

5. Hi fallenwood!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast: