Only 5 Ring Crossings Left as Cassini Nears End of Historic Mission at Saturn

Saturn’s moon Prometheus lurks near the outer F ring in this new view from Cassini. Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

NASA’s Cassini spacecraft just completed its 17th ring crossing at Saturn, part of the Grand Finale phase of the mission, leaving only 5 more to go before the mission ends on Sept. 15. As before, the ring crossing was a success, with Cassini sending back precious more data about the Saturn system even though time is now running short. The ring crossings, bringing the spacecraft closer to Saturn than ever before, provide a unique way for scientists to learn even more about Saturn and its moons in a manner never before possible.

During each ring crossing, Cassini performs specific observations. For this particular one, these included:

  • Cassini’s Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) observed Saturn’s northern aurora, attempting to capture the entire auroral oval over several observations.
  • The spacecraft’s imaging cameras, the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS), performed the first of two final observations of one of Saturn’s tiny, irregular moons, named Kiviuq, which completes about 80 percent of one rotation during Cassini’s observation. The observation is intended to improve models of the moon’s shape and other of Kiviuq’s characteristics.
  • The ISS instrument also targeted one of Saturn’s ring propeller features, and also continued its campaign of observing Saturn’s moon Titan for two segments of time, each lasting several hours, to image the moon’s atmosphere and surface, in particular to watch Titan’s clouds form and change. The spacecraft’s Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) and Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) observed Titan as well.
  • Also during this orbit, the spacecraft rolled to calibrate Cassini’s magnetometer (MAG).
  • During this orbit, Cassini got within 1,830 miles (2,940 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passed within 2,960 miles (4,760 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
Recent spectacular image from Cassini showing Saturn’s shadow on the finely detailed rings. Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
Another recent raw image showing an incredible amount of very fine detail in the rings, like the grooves on a vinyl record. Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
Another close-up raw image view of Saturn’s rings taken by Cassini on June 4, 2017. Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
Auroras at Saturn’s south pole, seen by Cassini on July 20, 2017. The bright specks and streaks appearing from frame to frame are due to charged particles and cosmic rays hitting the camera detector. Image Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
Saturn’s north polar “hexagon” jet stream is one of the most unusual features seen on any planet in the Solar System. Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech
Raw image view of Saturn’s largest moon Titan from July 31, 2017. One of the last views Cassini will see. Photo Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

Also during each ring crossing, Cassini has sent back incredible new images of Saturn and its moons. The views of Saturn and its rings are from a vantage point never before possible – between the planet itself and the innermost rings. The views have been spectacular, showing unprecedented detail in the structure of the rings and storms and clouds in the turbulent atmosphere. One new image posted yesterday shows the tiny moon Prometheus orbiting just inside the narrow F ring.

There is also new feature just posted, number 8, of Nine Ways Cassini Matters:

“Cassini represents a staggering achievement of human and technical complexity, finding innovative ways to use the spacecraft and its instruments, and paving the way for future missions to explore our Solar System.”

The sand may be running out of the hourglass, but Cassini will squeeze out every bit of science it can before the mission comes its fiery end.

All of Cassini’s raw images can be seen here on the mission website.

 

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