Enceladus Plume Search, Nov. 27 Options

[jmknapp]

Interesting item in the science plan kernel (S16) just released to the NAIF website:

OBSERVATION_ID: S1629

SEQUENCE: S16

OBSERVATION_TITLE: Plume Search

SCIENCE_OBJECTIVE: Hope to detect/observe plumes, whether from volcanic activity or geysers.

OBS_DESCRIPTION: Point and stare.

SUBSYSTEM: ISS

PRIMARY_POINTING: ISS_NAC to Enceladus (0.0,5.0,0.0 deg. offset)

REQUEST_ID: ISS_018EN_PLUMES001_PRIME

REQUEST_TITLE: ENCELADUS Geyser/Plume Search

REQ_DESCRIPTION: 1;ENCELADUS Geyser/Plume Search 1x1xNPp -- 3 different exposures

BEGIN_TIME: 2005 NOV 27 19:00:00 UTC

END_TIME: 2005 NOV 27 20:00:00 UTC

[jmknapp]

Here's the view of Enceladus during the plume search tomorrow:



Both Saturn and the sun are on practically the opposite side of Enceladus from Cassini during the observation (sun phase angle 162 degrees; Saturn phase angle 164 degees).

The sub-Cassini point on Enceladus will be 0.8 degrees N, 171 degrees W--so the limb is approximately the 81W/99E meridians.

[dilo]

Thanks for all these informations, jmknapp (also in other threads).
Really hope search will be succesfull!

[jmknapp]

Really hope search will be succesfull!

Here's a comparison to theplume search they did on Feb. 17, 2005:



That was somewhat further away than today's observation (282,000 km vs. 183,000 km) and the solar phase angle was a bit less (154 degrees), also a bit more saturnshine (129 degrees). So today's observation is more favorable all around.

Here was the result of one long-exposure NAC image Feb. 17th:

[mgrodzki]

that is a nice image… not color right? and i assume that blast there is just a light flare?

[dilo]

that is a nice image… not color right? and i assume that blast there is just a light flare?

Only false color images from different exposures (no filters), like this one...

For previous discussions on these images, look at
http://www.unmannedspaceflight.com/index.p...findpost&p=5657