Cassini sees cloud formation on Titan
Posted: Mon, Dec 20, 2004, 8:38 AM ET (1338 GMT)
Images of Titan taken by the Cassini spacecraft last week show cloud formations not seen during a flyby less than two months earlier, project scientists announced. Cassini passed with 1,200 km of Titan's surface during a flyby on December 13, the second close pass by Saturn's largest moon. Images taken during this flyby showed several extensive patches of clouds in mid-latitude regions of the moon; images taken during an October flyby showed no clouds anywhere in the atmosphere except near the south pole. The new cloud formations will allow scientists to measure wind speeds and directions in that region in the atmosphere not previously possible. In a separate study, astronomers using groundbased telescopes have detected similar cloud formations in Titan's atmosphere, appearing intermittently throughout the year. The Cassini images also showed fine features that could be impact-related surface features, although no definitive impact craters have yet been observed.
Images of Titan taken by the Cassini spacecraft last week show cloud formations not seen during a flyby less than two months earlier, project scientists announced. Cassini passed with 1,200 km of Titan's surface during a flyby on December 13, the second close pass by Saturn's largest moon. Images taken during this flyby showed several extensive patches of clouds in mid-latitude regions of the moon; images taken during an October flyby showed no clouds anywhere in the atmosphere except near the south pole. The new cloud formations will allow scientists to measure wind speeds and directions in that region in the atmosphere not previously possible. In a separate study, astronomers using groundbased telescopes have detected similar cloud formations in Titan's atmosphere, appearing intermittently throughout the year. The Cassini images also showed fine features that could be impact-related surface features, although no definitive impact craters have yet been observed.
Related Links:
| <<previous article | next article>> |
|
news in brief
|
|
|
|
news links
|
|
Tuesday, March 10
Firefly Delays Alpha Launch Attempt at Vandenberg Due to Sensor Reading
Noozhawk — 7:32 am ET (1132 GMT) Monday’s launch of Firefly Aerospace’s Alpha Flight 7 test flight Monday evening scrubbed
KEYT-TV Santa Barbara, CA — 7:32 am ET (1132 GMT) DoW announces death of USASMDC Soldier
US Army — 7:31 am ET (1131 GMT) Seventh US service member killed is identified as Army Space Brigade sergeant
AP — 7:30 am ET (1130 GMT) A Dark Matter
Business Standard — 7:25 am ET (1125 GMT) |
