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Posted by: tedstryk Feb 28 2005, 01:04 AM

It seems that starting with T3, Cassini was much more agressive in imaging available targets. It seemed to turn more to image more moons. Am I imagining this, or was Cassini being ultraconservative when it still had Huygens?

Posted by: Decepticon Feb 28 2005, 01:26 AM

I think it has to do with its Lower orbit.

Posted by: remcook Feb 28 2005, 06:16 PM

well...it is true that when it still had Huygens, its moment of inertia was much higher and thus the turn rates were lower.

Posted by: Sunspot Mar 2 2005, 03:47 PM

I hope Cassini had her cameras pointed at Titan on March 1, 22:35 UT:

Posted by: Decepticon Mar 3 2005, 01:18 PM

Oh yes!

Very nice.

http://saturn1.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/raw/raw-images-list.cfm?StartRow=49&cacheQ=1&browseLatest=1&storedQ=921943

Posted by: TheChemist Mar 3 2005, 01:42 PM

I think Sunspot would like an image of Titan with Saturn on the background.

Posted by: David Mar 3 2005, 08:24 PM

I think that the "string of pearls" imagery where several moons are seen in a row along the line of Saturn's rings is very beautiful.

I am actually surprised at how visible the rings are edge-on, given how thin they are. I would have expected them to disappear against the background of Saturn altogether. Perhaps they are not precisely edge-on?

Posted by: BruceMoomaw Mar 3 2005, 09:32 PM

They pretty clearly are not completely edge-on in those photos -- there are some where the width of the thin triangle of visible ring is a bit wider than others. (Which is hardly surprising.)

The interesting question I myself haven't seen answered yet is whether the edge-on photos featuring Prometheus and Pandora -- which show a clear gap between the thin illuminated line of the F Ring and the thin illuminated line of the other rings -- are just due to this viewing-angle effect, or whether they're showing actual out-of-plane tilting or warping of the F Ring. (My guess is the latter. In one of those photos, Pandora, which of course is outside the F Ring, seems to be BETWEEN the plane of the F Ring and the plane of the other rings.)

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/raw/raw-images-details.cfm?feiImageID=33326

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/images/raw/raw-images-details.cfm?feiImageID=33330