Possibly the ultimate in photography

SteveOBHave · 30 Aug 2006 at 09:56

Possibly the ultimate in photography - Largish images

These are some photos from the Cassini-Huygens space probe sent to Saturn. To be clear, these are taken from a camera hanging of a 6 ton spacecraft that measures around 22 feet high by 13 feet wide.

The moon Titan seen through the rings of Saturn

The moon Dione with Saturn in the background

The moon Enceladus

Saturn in close true colour as the eye would see it.

SATURN - this one stuns me

Image source: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm

SteveOBHave · 30 Aug 2006 at 10:14

cyKey said:
Thats unreal. Stunning photos. However, they really should use HDR so they can get some stars in

LOL - I'll be sure to tell them next time they launch a spacecraft to Saturn

SteveOBHave · 30 Aug 2006 at 10:31

here you go - Saturn with stars

SteveOBHave · 30 Aug 2006 at 11:05

steveo said:
lol they look fake lol

Uh-oh - conspiracy theorist? They are def real, check out the link at the bottom:

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm

SteveOBHave · 30 Aug 2006 at 11:37

now there is something to research - what cameras do they use?

SteveOBHave · 30 Aug 2006 at 12:32

Thought I'd include some of the Jupiter flyby images also:

SteveOBHave · 30 Aug 2006 at 13:40

nero120 said:
They are fantastic. I sometimes wonder what it would be like to see these planets up close. I imagine you'd be pretty freaked at the actual size of them, I wonder when manned flights will visit them - probably not in out lifetimes.

I wouldn't be so sure. Another space race could well be all that is needed and there are several challengers for a return to the moon. There are also pushes from private companies to get to the moon and beyond motivated by the likes of the X-Prize foundation.

I think we're going to see some pretty cool stuff in our lifetime.

SteveOBHave · 30 Aug 2006 at 13:46

Fstop11 said:
Well looking at them up close isnt that easy when the size of them needs to be considered.

http://www.rense.com/general72/size.htm

Nice comparison - kinda humbling isn't it.

SteveOBHave · 30 Aug 2006 at 16:31

Tomsk said:
Apparently only 1Mpixel

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/spacecraft/inst-cassini-iss-details.cfm

Prime example as to why the number of pixels mean diddly and the quality of the lense is the be-all...

SteveOBHave · 30 Aug 2006 at 20:57

VaderDSL said:
Thought I recognised that, it's the photo from the front cover of Iain M. Banks : The Algebraist

except it has been rotated 90degrees clockwise and maybe mirror'd etc Does look like Nasqueron

Could never get into Ian M. Banks books - too over complicated

Fully random tho!

SteveOBHave · 31 Aug 2006 at 08:06

Alex53 said:
They still look like CGI to me.

well buddy, I hate to break it to you but that's what real stuff looks like

They had to base the CGI on something didn't they!

SteveOBHave · 31 Aug 2006 at 08:19

Reminded me to check up on the Spirit and Opportunity Mars rovers. Guess what - they're still going strong, still sending back images and data about rock composition. It's pretty amazing stuff considering that the original mission for the rovers was to be 90 Days.

Launch was June 5 2003 and June 25 2003. It is now 31st Aug 2006 and they have been in operation on the surface of Mars for over 2 years!

1149540134_2052_Sol859A_McMurdo_L257atc4x-A865R1_br.jpg

Source: http://marsrovers.nasa.gov/home/index.html

SteveOBHave · 1 Sep 2006 at 08:21

Morlan said:
Saturn flyby Video: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/multimedia/videos/movies/PIA07806_full_movie.mpg

It just doesn't look real!

Thats cool man and so eerie.