Cassini's Phoebe encounter
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Topic authorchris
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Cassini's Phoebe encounter
I'm very excited about the upcoming Phoebe flyby by Cassini on Friday. The Cassini imaging team just release this set of images, taken from distances ranging from 4.1 to 2.5 million kilometers:
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/cgibin/gs2.c ... type=image
Cassini will fly within 2000km of Phoebe, and details as small as 15 meters should be visible in the images. What does it mean for Celestia? For one, we'll need a texture that's about 48k x 24k to capture all the details from the Cassini images. Of course, only a small portion of the surface will be imaged at such high resolution--a Phoebe virtual texture perhaps?
It's fortunate that Phoebe is not in synchronous rotation; with a rotation period of only 9.3 hours, all of the surface should be illuminated at some point during the encounter. According to JPL, the entire surface should be mapped in color at between 0.3 and 2.1 km/pixel. The only gaps in a surface map of Phoebe will be at 'poles' invisible to Cassini . . .
--Chris
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/cgibin/gs2.c ... type=image
Cassini will fly within 2000km of Phoebe, and details as small as 15 meters should be visible in the images. What does it mean for Celestia? For one, we'll need a texture that's about 48k x 24k to capture all the details from the Cassini images. Of course, only a small portion of the surface will be imaged at such high resolution--a Phoebe virtual texture perhaps?
It's fortunate that Phoebe is not in synchronous rotation; with a rotation period of only 9.3 hours, all of the surface should be illuminated at some point during the encounter. According to JPL, the entire surface should be mapped in color at between 0.3 and 2.1 km/pixel. The only gaps in a surface map of Phoebe will be at 'poles' invisible to Cassini . . .
--Chris
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It's already time for this encounter?! My, how time flies. This will be exceedingly cool though
BTW, I notice that Cassini appears to be oriented incorrectly in Celestia - the dish should be pointing towards the Earth, shouldn't it? I don't think it's using a low gain antenna now that's oriented differently is it? Or is it?
BTW, I notice that Cassini appears to be oriented incorrectly in Celestia - the dish should be pointing towards the Earth, shouldn't it? I don't think it's using a low gain antenna now that's oriented differently is it? Or is it?
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As I understand it this will be Cassini's only enouncter with Phoebe will it not? Due to Phoebe retrograde, distant and inclined orbit, I should think this particular fly-by is very important science wise. Not only is it the start of the actual mission but its the first time we've ever seen this small moon from within 2 million Km.
Also this gives us something to chew on between June 11 and July 1 when Cassini reaches SOI.
Also this gives us something to chew on between June 11 and July 1 when Cassini reaches SOI.
"May Fortune Favor the Foolish" - James T. Kirk
Evil Dr Ganymede wrote:BTW, I notice that Cassini appears to be oriented incorrectly in Celestia - the dish should be pointing towards the Earth, shouldn't it? I don't think it's using a low gain antenna now that's oriented differently is it? Or is it?
AFAIK Cassini doesn't always keep the dish pointed Earthwards.
That's why pictures of the encounter will be sent back to Earth no earlier than Saturday.
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I was watching the encounter with Celestia, and funnily enough the bright patches on the current Phoebe map at this stage of it seem to correspond very closely with the bright patches in the image. Must be coincidence since I don't think the Phoebe map is based on anything known so far, but I thought it was kinda cool
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Evil Dr Ganymede wrote:BTW, I notice that Cassini appears to be oriented incorrectly in Celestia - the dish should be pointing towards the Earth, shouldn't it? I don't think it's using a low gain antenna now that's oriented differently is it? Or is it?
In the orbiter forum someone asked the same and here is what i remember from the asnwer: The dish its not only a dish, but also some kind of shelter: when cassini croses the rings, just before the SOI burn, the antenae will protect the craft from small rocks and ice...
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EL XENTENARIO
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The Cassini encounter with Phoebe will happen pretty quickly.
More images are coming in.
http://ciclops.lpl.arizona.edu/view.php ... e39cddbf22
Are there any good 3d modellers out there?
More images are coming in.
http://ciclops.lpl.arizona.edu/view.php ... e39cddbf22
Are there any good 3d modellers out there?
Regards, Losty
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Evil Dr Ganymede wrote:Erk. I hope the "small rocks and ice" don't damage the dish then... if this turns into Galileo and we lose the HGA here again, I will in all likelihood want to kill someone.
Dont worry... it wont happen...
BTW: if in the dish appear some holes, it wont affect the dish...
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A which time the flyby is??
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+ + + Update! + + +
Here are the latest (released) pictures from Phoebe. And these aren't even the highest resolution pictures... (the best ones are about 10 times the resolution!). I'm sure they'll be releasing more over the next few days...
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA06066
Here are the latest (released) pictures from Phoebe. And these aren't even the highest resolution pictures... (the best ones are about 10 times the resolution!). I'm sure they'll be releasing more over the next few days...
http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA06066
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Actually, Europa orbits Jupiter. Cassini is at Saturn, which is the mission's primary target. however, as far as moons go, the one that will garner the most interest will be Titan.
Here's the mission's home page: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
The next big goal is the orbital insertion on July 1. here's looking forward to a long and prosperous mission!
...John...
Here's the mission's home page: http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
The next big goal is the orbital insertion on July 1. here's looking forward to a long and prosperous mission!
...John...
"To make an apple pie from scratch, you must first create the universe..."
--Carl Sagan
--Carl Sagan
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New pictures!!! (they're too big to post here, but they're awesomely high resolution!).
http://ciclops.lpl.arizona.edu/view.php?id=197 The Face of Phoebe
http://ciclops.lpl.arizona.edu/view.php?id=196 Phoebe's Surprise
http://ciclops.lpl.arizona.edu/view.php?id=193 Crater closeup on Phoebe
http://ciclops.lpl.arizona.edu/view.php?id=197 The Face of Phoebe
http://ciclops.lpl.arizona.edu/view.php?id=196 Phoebe's Surprise
http://ciclops.lpl.arizona.edu/view.php?id=193 Crater closeup on Phoebe
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Why is it called Phoebe's Surprise?
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