Todays pic is a very different view of an old favourite, Jupiter.
Farewell Jupiter
Next stop: Saturn. The Cassini spacecraft, launched from Earth in 1997, has now swung past Jupiter and should arrive at Saturn in the year 2004. Pictured to the left is a parting shot from Cassini in January that would not have been possible from Earth: Jupiter showing a crescent phase. From the Earth and all points sunward of Jupiter, the gas giant will always appear more fully lit than a crescent. Recent analysis of Jupiter images taken from Cassini bolsters indications that clouds well up from below in the light colored zones, not the dark colored belts, as believed previously. After arriving at Saturn, Cassini will decelerate to orbit the ringed world and send a probe to its enigmatic moon Titan.
Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, Cassini Project, NASA
A larger version of this piccy can be found here, this is only a 27K Jpeg but is well worth the look.
Previous Pic Of The Day posts
08th Mar 03
07th Mar 03
06th Mar 03Courtesy of Garp
05th Mar 03Courtesy of Grouch
03rd Mar 03
02nd Mar 03
01st Mar 03
Farewell Jupiter
Next stop: Saturn. The Cassini spacecraft, launched from Earth in 1997, has now swung past Jupiter and should arrive at Saturn in the year 2004. Pictured to the left is a parting shot from Cassini in January that would not have been possible from Earth: Jupiter showing a crescent phase. From the Earth and all points sunward of Jupiter, the gas giant will always appear more fully lit than a crescent. Recent analysis of Jupiter images taken from Cassini bolsters indications that clouds well up from below in the light colored zones, not the dark colored belts, as believed previously. After arriving at Saturn, Cassini will decelerate to orbit the ringed world and send a probe to its enigmatic moon Titan.
Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, Cassini Project, NASA
A larger version of this piccy can be found here, this is only a 27K Jpeg but is well worth the look.
Previous Pic Of The Day posts
08th Mar 03
07th Mar 03
06th Mar 03Courtesy of Garp
05th Mar 03Courtesy of Grouch
03rd Mar 03
02nd Mar 03
01st Mar 03
