Enceladus
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Enceladus at 12,551 km. Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
The Cassini spacecraft has flown close to the Saturn moon Enceladus and is now sending back data.
The goal of the flyby was to take a close look at the South Pole region of the moon and its “tiger stripes” and famed geysers. The image I put on here is part of the raw data and shows the moon 7,774 miles (12,511 km) away. The flyby took the spacecraft to within 30 miles (50 km), yes 30 miles at a speed of 17.7 km/sec or 40,000 mph relative to the moon!!! Yikes!!
The data is being transmitted to ground stations right now and it’s hard to imagine the findings will be anything but ordinary. We will find out in days to weeks, I can hardly wait.
Believe it or not, a future flyby is going to take the spacecraft only 16 miles (25 km) from the moons surface.
Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
Amazing, 16 (25 km) mile! It diameter is only 311 miles (500 km)… so that is 1/20th of the size we see in this picture! That approximately the distance from the left side of the moon to the beginning of the dark valley area. or a little more or less then twice the distance of that star that appears at the bottom of the moon (if I’m not mistaken) That’s IS truly an “E ticket” ride (approaching at 40,000 mph)!
Imagine That!
Definitely a “Don’t Blink as we Fly by” Kids! Kinda moment…
Huh! Whadya say… Shoot! I missed it!
LOL, that’s what would happen to me.