T16 RADAR SAR Swath, Land o' lakes |
T16 RADAR SAR Swath, Land o' lakes |
Jul 24 2006, 09:33 PM
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Senior Member Group: Moderator Posts: 3242 Joined: 11-February 04 From: Tucson, AZ Member No.: 23 |
Much to my surprise, a chunk of the T16 Sar swath as been released:
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA08630 An abundance of lakes can been seen. Some appear to be crater lakes (or sinkholes), like the lake at far left on the top cutout. That lake appears similar to Crater Lake in Oregon, with a little island in the middle (you can kinda see the attenuation of the signal surrounding the island as the methane gets deeper). Some lakes appear quite distinctive from the surrounding terrain, like the features on the right part of the bottom cutout. -------------------- &@^^!% Jim! I'm a geologist, not a physicist!
The Gish Bar Times - A Blog all about Jupiter's Moon Io |
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Jul 24 2006, 11:50 PM
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Member Group: Members Posts: 813 Joined: 29-December 05 From: NE Oh, USA Member No.: 627 |
Agree here with Rob...
Close up monitoring of the seasonal changes is paramount. Will methane follow the dark..... evaporate in the sun and unleash brief methane monsoons at the lower latitudes until a new equilibirum is reached at the southern pole as it retreats into a winter darkness...... ?????? This really speaks to an extended CASSINI mission as a precursor to future Titan missions. Craig |
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Jul 25 2006, 12:26 AM
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IMG to PNG GOD Group: Moderator Posts: 2254 Joined: 19-February 04 From: Near fire and ice Member No.: 38 |
Now Titan is even more interesting than before, an extended mission even more important than before and as before, almost too many interesting targets to explore at Saturn. And probably at least 15-20 years until a new mission gets launched towards Saturn.
Will the northern lakes disappear and if so, when? Will lakes form near the south pole when it recedes into darkness and if so, when? Hopefully Cassini lasts years beyond its primary mission, enabling it to observe seasonal changes (Titan and Saturn's blue northern hemisphere). |
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Jul 25 2006, 03:37 AM
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Senior Member Group: Members Posts: 2530 Joined: 20-April 05 Member No.: 321 |
Hopefully Cassini lasts years beyond its primary mission, enabling it to observe seasonal changes (Titan and Saturn's blue northern hemisphere). If attitude control propellent is truly the life-limiting factor for Cassini, then the variable in our control is the number of pointing operations (under current operational norms, the number of flyby observations) per unit time. Even if Titan were the only object under consideration, the choices would be, at the extremes, dozens of flybys at the current rate, obtaining more RADAR (especially) and VIMS coverage, but only lasting a couple of years (going just past equinox) or a more languid rate of coverage, making few observations (perhaps many "blind" flybys with few or no observations), but lasting well into the next Titanian seasons. Obviously, flybys of the other satellites would subtract from the Titan observations. These lakes might relegate Iapetus, aside from its late-primary-mission closeup, to "see you next mission" status. Enceladus will still hold its own as an extended mission candidate, but the other icy moons are looking forgettable in comparison. |
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Jul 25 2006, 11:36 AM
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Junior Member Group: Members Posts: 57 Joined: 13-February 06 From: Brisbane, Australia Member No.: 679 |
Hi All
Lacustrine wannabes at last! These lakes might relegate Iapetus, aside from its late-primary-mission closeup, to "see you next mission" status. Enceladus will still hold its own as an extended mission candidate, but the other icy moons are looking forgettable in comparison. Hate to say it, but there's nothing as interesting as Titan and Enceladus amongst the rest. Titan we're more likely to learn much, much more about by an extended mission. Has anyone looked into aerobraking Cassini into a survey orbit around Titan? Adam |
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Jul 25 2006, 11:38 AM
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IMG to PNG GOD Group: Moderator Posts: 2254 Joined: 19-February 04 From: Near fire and ice Member No.: 38 |
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Guest_AlexBlackwell_* |
Jul 25 2006, 05:43 PM
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#7
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Guests |
This has been discussed here before (I don't remember where) and it is not possible. This questions pops up so frequently on discussion boards that there should be an FAQ posted somewhere. I posted a brief note in another thread on this issue. And as you note, the short answer is no, Cassini is not designed to aerobrake. |
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