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Cassini to Saturn

A spacecraft that Cassini entered orbit around Saturn in the summer of 2004, and has transmitted tens of thousands of images of the planet and its rings and moons. On January 14, 2005, a second part of the mission, the Huygens probe, parachuted to a soft landing on Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. Its images showed a landscape carved by flowing liquid. Cassini’s instruments have peered through Titan’s atmospheric haze to discover lakes of liquid methane and ethane, extensive river networks, ice volcanoes, and giant dune systems on Titan’s surface. Cassini is scheduled to continue its reconnaissance of the Saturn system until 2017.

Resources

Saturn's Moons February 19, 2016
Saturn's rings

Saturn February 10, 2016

Ongoing Explorations March 3, 2014

Explorations of Outer Planets July 7, 2008

Radio Programs

Moon and Saturn Discovering a giant dirty snowball December 26, 2022

Moon and Saturn Plunging into a deep ocean July 14, 2022

Moon and Saturn Seeing red on a moon of Saturn May 21, 2022

Moon and Saturn Probing the center of a planet January 4, 2022

Iapetus A moon with quite a contrast October 25, 2021

Moon and Saturn Lightning bolts in alien skies August 29, 2020

Moon and Saturn Dipping into an intriguing ocean February 19, 2020

Moon and Saturn Painting stripes on a moon March 28, 2019

Moon and Planets Washing away Saturn’s rings March 1, 2019

Moon and Saturn Dusting a distant moon December 8, 2018

Moon and Saturn A giant bubble around a giant planet October 14, 2018

Moon and Saturn Young rings for an old planet September 16, 2018

End of Cassini The final day of a grand tour September 14, 2017

Exploring Saturn Getting to know a giant planet September 13, 2017

Through the Gap A spacecraft begins its final act April 21, 2017

Last Visit A final visit to a big moon April 20, 2017

Moon and Saturn Sweeping past the rings of Saturn February 19, 2017

Big Year A big year ahead in the sky January 1, 2017

Featured Images

Cassini view of crescent Jupiter and Io

Deadly Duo November 11, 2021
Saturn's two-toned moon, Iapetus

Two-Tone Moon October 25, 2021
Saturn and its rings viewed shortly before the start of northern summer

A New Season September 16, 2021
cassini view of enceladus

Distant Habitat? March 8, 2021
The moons Titan and Dione in front of Saturn

Hazy Moon June 8, 2020
Saturn, its rings, and a hexagonal storm at its north pole, 2013

Stormy Skies July 7, 2019
artist's concept of Cassini passing inside Saturn's rings

Inside Job March 1, 2019
Cassini view of Titan lakes, clouds

Cold Moon May 30, 2018
bright spokes in Saturn's rings

Bright Spokes November 20, 2017
Enceladus sets behind Saturn

Saying Goodbye September 15, 2017
Cassini flies between Saturn and its rings

Final Act September 13, 2017
Cassini view of Saturn's moon Tethys against the planet's clouds and rings

Death Star Moon August 2, 2017
The moon Daphnis stirs up Saturn's rings

Making Waves June 12, 2017
Views of Saturn's north polar hexagon in 2013 and 2017.

Changing Seasons May 28, 2017
Saturn's moon Iapetus

Two-Faced Moon May 5, 2017
April 26, 2017, image of Saturn from Cassini

Close Dive April 28, 2017
Cassini view of Earth, Moon, and Saturn's rings

Looking Back April 24, 2017
Artist's concept of Cassini crossing inside Saturn's rings

Through the Gap April 21, 2017
Cassini view of Saturn's north pole

Closer to the Storm December 11, 2016
Canyons and lakes on Saturn's moon Titan

Cold Canyons October 31, 2016
Saturn's glorious rings

Just Plain Rings October 3, 2016
Cassini infrared view of Titan

Through the Smog July 15, 2016
Saturn's giant hexagon

Planetary Geometry May 30, 2016
Cassini views the moon Enceladus passing in front of Saturn

Last Look December 23, 2015
Plumes of ice and water shoot into space from Enceladus, a moon of Saturn

Getting Wet October 27, 2015
Cassini view of north polar region of Enceladus

Headin' North October 15, 2015
Saturn's icy moon Enceladus (background) slides behind Dione

Two-Fer September 18, 2015
August 17, 2015, view of Saturn's moon Dione in front of the giant planet

Last Visit August 18, 2015
Cassini view of a giant storm in Saturn's northern hemisphere

Stormy Skies June 28, 2015
Two views of Saturn's moon Dione from Cassini

Near and Far June 18, 2015
Cassini view of Saturn's family of gings

Family Portrait April 7, 2015
Cassini view of Jupiter from 6 million miles

Turbulent Giant February 6, 2015
The Huygens probe arrives at Titan in 2005

Cold Landing January 14, 2015