Target 2: Titan, Tethys and Enceladus
 |
Target 2: Titan, Tethys and Enceladus
Targets
Target 1:
Target 2:
Target 3:
Juan Arrieta-Camacho
Cassini Navigator
 |
Software used by the Cassini science planning team simulates the field of view the cameras on board the Cassini spacecraft can capture at a specific date and time. This is a computer-generated image of Titan, Tethys and Enceladus as seen by the Cassini spacecraft's Narrow Angle Camera on Oct. 18, 2010. |
Hi, I'm Juan.
I am a Maneuver Analyst for the Cassini Navigation Team.
I'm very excited to that you will be helping us select the best imaging target for Cassini.
I hope to convince you that Target 2 is the best choice.
In this observation, the Narrow Angle Camera will be pointed at Titan, Saturn's largest moon. Titan will be at the center of the field of view and Saturn's rings will also be visible, edge-on, near the top of the image.
While this would be great in itself, the amazing thing is that two other very interesting moons, Tethys and Enceladus, will also be crossing the field of view during the observation!
Cassini will take 66 images of this out-of-this world scene, allowing scientists to put together a short video of these three moons.
I think Target 2 is the best observation because it includes three of the most intriguing moons orbiting Saturn, and a shot of the rings.
Titan has a dense atmosphere and organic materials that may resemble a frozen early Earth;
Tethys is mostly water ice and has a huge crater – almost half of its diameter;
Enceladus has active ice geysers that feed one of Saturn's rings;
So, if you are interested in being a movie director with moons as the stars of your show, go ahead and pick Target 2!
