Saturn Archives - Universe Today

Summer Astronomy, Minimoon & Saturn Opposition 2017

7 Jun , 2017 by David Dickinson

There’s one reason to stay up late this summer, as the planet Saturn reaches opposition this week on June 15th and crosses into the evening sky.

How Big is Saturn?

5 Jun , 2017 by Matt Williams

Saturn is the second largest planet in the Solar System, so big that you could fit Earth inside it 763 times and still have some room left over!

Saturn’s Hexagon Will be the Star of the Cassini Finale

10 May , 2017 by Matt Williams

In the coming weeks, the Cassini probe will getting a better glimpse at the hexagonal storm around its northern polar region, as part of its Grand Finale

Titan Ripe For Drone Invasion

4 May , 2017 by Matt Williams

Elizabeth Turtle , a researcher at NASA’s JHUAPL, reveals the latest details of “the Dragonfly” – a proposal for an aerial vehicle that could explore Titan in the coming decades.

A Survivor’s Tale: Cassini Lives Through First Ring Dive

27 Apr , 2017 by Nancy Atkinson

One down, twenty-one to go! The Cassini spacecraft survived the first dive through the narrow gap between Saturn and its rings, and is now back communicating with Earth. “No spacecraft has ever been this close to Saturn before. We could only rely on predictions, based on our experience with Saturn’s other rings, of what we […]

Adieu Titan: So Long & Thanks For All The Hydrocarbons

25 Apr , 2017 by Matt Williams

On Friday, April 21st, the Cassini spacecraft conducted its last flyby of Titan, a maneuver which touched off the final phase of its mission around Saturn.

Earth Beams From Between Saturn’s Rings in New Cassini Image

21 Apr , 2017 by Bob King

Cassini took this rare photo of the Earth and moon on April 12 just before the start of its daring Grand Finale mission this weekend.

The Orbit of Saturn. How Long is a Year on Saturn?

17 Apr , 2017 by Matt Williams

Given its considerable distance from the Sun, Saturn takes about 29.5 Earth years to complete a single orbit around the Sun.

Cassini’s Final Mission to Annihilation Starts April 22

4 Apr , 2017 by Nancy Atkinson

Grab the tissues. This video nearly had the Cassini team all choked up during today’s press briefing, and virtual sobs and sniffs were abundant on social media posts sharing the video. “We get goosebumps and get emotional every time we see it,” said Earl Maize, Cassini project manager at JPL. On April 22 the Cassini […]

What About a Mission to Titan?

25 Mar , 2017 by Fraser Cain

Europa is fine and all, but where we really need to go is Saturn’s moon Titan. Let’s look at some cool ideas for probes to fully explore this world.

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