Back-in-Action Cassini Doesn't Disappoint

By Nancy Atkinson - December 2, 2010 at 2:08 PM UTC | Planetary Science
enceladus-pool.jpg

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Here are a few raw images from the Cassini spacecraft's most recent flyby of Enceladus. The probe seems to be in good health following several weeks in safe mode, after a bit flipped in the command and data subsystem computer. This prevented the spacecraft from registering and following instructions. But she appears to be humming along just fine now, and snapped this great picture of Enceladus and Dione yesterday (have to quote @lukedones on Twitter: "Dione going in the corner pocket!") Cassini focused on the Enceladus during a close flyby on November 30, so see more below, including a wonderful shot of a veritable curtain of geyser "spray."

[caption id="attachment_81148" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="A good look at the spray from the fissures on Enceladus. NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute "]

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[caption id="attachment_81149" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Enceladus, backdropped by Saturn's rings. Credit: NASA/JPL/ Space Science Institute. "]

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[caption id="attachment_81150" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="Closeup of Enceladus. Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute. "]

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[caption id="attachment_81151" align="aligncenter" width="500" caption="An even closer closeup of Enceladus. Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute. "]

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See more raw images at the

Cassini website

, or the

CICLOPS imaging website.

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson

Nancy Atkinson is a space journalist and author with a passion for telling the stories of people involved in space exploration and astronomy. She is currently retired from daily writing, but worked at Universe Today for 20 years as a writer and editor. She also contributed articles to The Planetary Society, Ad Astra (National Space Society), New Scientist and many other online outlets.

Her 2019 book, "Eight Years to the Moon: The History of the Apollo Missions,” shares the untold stories of engineers and scientists who worked behind the scenes to make the Apollo program so successful, despite the daunting odds against it. Her first book “Incredible Stories From Space: A Behind-the-Scenes Look at the Missions Changing Our View of the Cosmos” (2016) tells the stories of 37 scientists and engineers that work on several current NASA robotic missions to explore the solar system and beyond.

Nancy is also a NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador, and through this program, she has the opportunity to share her passion of space and astronomy with children and adults through presentations and programs. Nancy's personal website is nancyatkinson.com