September 15, 2017 was the last day in the history of the Cassini mission. On that day, the spacecraft entered the atmosphere of Saturn and turned into a meteor. This was done intentionally to avoid the risk that in the future an uncontrolled probe will collide with one of Saturn’s moons and pollute it with terrestrial microorganisms.
Cassini is, without exaggeration, an outstanding mission. Over the years, the device has made many discoveries and collected a huge array of data about the sixth planet from the Sun. And it also transmitted to Earth a huge number of amazing photos of Saturn and its moons. In honor of the five-year anniversary of Cassini’s completion, the editors of The Universe Space Tech have compiled a selection of twenty-five of its best pictures.
Jupiter
On the way to its goal, Cassini visited Jupiter. The device photographed the largest planet of the Solar system, as well as some of its moons.
Portrait of Jupiter. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteThe Europa moon, against the background of a Large Red Spot. Source: NASA / JPL-Caltech / SSI / color composite by Gordan Ugarkovic
Saturn
Over the years, Cassini has made many very spectacular portraits of Saturn.
Portrait of Saturn. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstitutePortrait of Saturn. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstitutePortrait of Saturn. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstitutePortrait of Saturn. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstitutePortrait of Saturn. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
Saturn ‘s Hexagon
One of the most mysterious structures of Saturn is called the hexagon. This is a giant hexagonal vortex with a diameter of 25 thousand km (which is twice the diameter of the Earth), which is located above the north pole of the planet. Cassini has photographed it repeatedly.
A hexagonal vortex over Saturn’s north pole. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteThe center of the Saturn ‘s Hexagon (artificial colors). Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
Saturn’s Rings
Cassini’s images clearly demonstrated the surprisingly complex nature of Saturn’s rings and the structures that arise in it. The device also managed to photograph a number of small moon which orbits pass inside the rings and which gravity affects them.
Mimas moon on the background of Saturn’s rings. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteThe outer edge of one of Saturn’s rings. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteThe outer edge of one of Saturn’s rings is a close-up. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteSaturn’s rings. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteSaturn’s rings. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteThe moon Daphnis and the gap created by its gravity in the rings of Saturn. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteThe highest quality photo of Saturn’s rings. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
Saturn ‘s Moons
Cassini also made detailed portraits of all of Saturn’s major moons.
Yapet. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteThe eruption of Enceladus geysers. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteEnceladus. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteSaturn’s two largest moons are Titan and Rhea. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteHyperion. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteRadar image of the Ligeia Mare, the second largest hydrocarbon sea of Titan. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteEnceladus’ set. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
Saturn Family Portrait
In 2013, Cassini made a family portrait of Saturn and its moons. Our planet also got on it.
Family portrait of Saturn. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science InstituteThe Earth (indicated by an arrow) in the Cassini image. Source: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
