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Saturn's moon Enceladus. Image taken by Cassini

One of Saturn's moons might have tipped over

Jesse Rogerson, PhD

Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

Even nearing the end, the Cassini spacecraft is still producing amazing science. This story focuses on Saturn's moon Enceladus; researchers from Cornell University in New York say they have found evidence that the moon has changed its polar axis of spin. This is based on features they've found on the surface of the moon.

Saturn's moon Titan.

Summer Arrives on Titan

Jesse Rogerson, PhD

Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

The Cassini spacecraft took this image of the north pole of Titan, the largest moon of Saturn, in the near-infrared. The dark spots near the top of the image are Titan's massive polar lakes of methane. Also visible are white streaks of cloud. The Saturnian system has moved into summer solstice for the northern hemisphere, shedding more light on Titan's north pole.

An artists impression of the Cassini spacecraft above Saturn

Understanding Saturn, its rings, and its moons: The Cassini-Huygens Mission

Jesse Rogerson, PhD

Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

The Cassini-Huygens spacecraft is a dual orbiter (Cassini) and lander (Huygens) currently orbiting Saturn. It launched from Cape Canaveral on October 15, 1997, entered orbit around Saturn on the July 1, 2004, and has been studying the Saturnian system ever since. After two mission extensions, and a grand total of almost 13 years orbiting the giant gas planet, Cassini-Huygens’ mission is now coming to a close. The European Space Agency (ESA) built and operated the Huygens lander, which flew with

Three moons of Saturn collected in one image: Atlas, Pan, Daphnis. These moons have large equatorial bulges.

The Walnut-Shaped Moons of Saturn

Jesse Rogerson, PhD

Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

The Cassini spacecraft has made some truly remarkable discoveries within the Saturnian system, where it has been orbiting for the last 13 years. One such discovery is of the walnut-shaped moons: Atlas, Daphnis, and Pan. These moons sport a prominent equatorial ridge pattern circumnavigating the moons (Saturn's moon Iapetus also as an equatorial feature, though not as prominent as these). The ridges are due to where the moons are located. They are all located in or very near to the ring system,

An artist impression of the Cassini spacecraft just above the atmosphere of Saturn.

What You Need to Know About the Final 11 Orbits of Cassini

Jesse Rogerson, PhD

Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

The Cassini spacecraft has only 11 more orbits left of the ringed planet Saturn before its destruction. On September 15th, 2017, Cassini will make a planned plunge into the clouds of Saturn, which will cause it to break up. The science is packed in for Cassini over these orbits: it will study the rings by imaging and sampling, create a more accurate gravitational map of Saturn, and measure the magnetic field of Saturn. Here take a look at the summary of science in the final phase of the Grand

An artists impression of the Cassini spacecraft crossing the ring plane.

Cassini's first dive, finds "The Big Empty"

Jesse Rogerson, PhD

Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

The Cassini spacecraft successfully completed its first dive between the planet Saturn and its rings, something no other craft had done before. Before attempting the dive, scientists weren't sure exactly how much dust/debris would exist in this gap. As a precaution, the orbital scientists oriented Cassini so that its radio antennae pointed in the direction of its trajectory to help protect some of its more sensitive instruments. While performing the dive, mission scientists performed

A close up view of a storm on the surface of Saturn, taken by the Cassini spacecraft.

Cassini Makes its First Dive Between Saturn and its Rings

Jesse Rogerson, PhD

Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

NASA's Cassini-Huygens mission has begun its final mission phase, making its first dive between the planet Saturn and its rings. It is the only craft to ever make that plunge. Check out some of the amazing images it took as it went through, including the north pole hexagonal vortex.

A black and white image of a storm on the surface of Saturn, taken in an close approach by Cassini

Cassini Dives Closest to Saturn's Atmosphere Ever

Jesse Rogerson, PhD

Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

The NASA/ESA Cassini spacecraft completed its first of 22 dives between the planet Saturn and its ring system; no spacecraft has ever flown that trajectory before. During the pass by the rings, Cassini was out of radio contact. Upon regaining communications, Cassini sent back an image of Saturn, the closest of the planet ever taken. Cassini will continue to dive closer and closer to the atmosphere of Saturn until it ultimately burns up on September 15th, 2017.

An image of Tethys, a moon of Saturn, taken by the Cassini spacecraft

The Dark Chasm of Tethys

Jesse Rogerson, PhD

Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

The NASA/ESA Mission to Saturn, the Cassini-Huygens spacecraft, snapped this shot of the moon Tethys, a 1000 km wide moon of Saturn. Featured in the lower right is Ithaca Chasm. This canyon is about 100 km wide and 2000 km long; it stretches nearly 75% around the moon itself.

An image of Saturn taken above the north pole, including the rings.

A Look Back Towards Home...

Jesse Rogerson, PhD

Ingenium - Canada's Museums of Science and Innovation

On the 12th of April 2017, the Cassini spacecraft orbiting Saturn took a minute to look back towards its home planet and snap a picture. At the time, the Earth, Moon, and all 7.125 billion humans were about 1.8 billion kilometers away. The fortuitous image catches Earth sitting between the A and F rings of Saturn, with the Keeler and Encke gaps visible as well. Cassini hasn't taken many pics of home, but this is probably my favourite so far. On 22 April 2017, Cassini will take a gravity assist