Vale Cassini

[mike carey]

In 15 hours from now, the Saturn orbiter Cassini will crash into the planet and burn up in its atmosphere. It was launched in 1997 and has been in the Saturnian system since 2004. The science has been amazing, it has viewed the rings, discovered additional moons that mean we now know of 62 moons of Saturn, and more. Cassini has found rivers, lakes and oceans on the moon Titan, but they are liquid methane and ethane. Still, they have a cycle similar to the water cycle on Earth and may provide the basis of life. Cassini has also seen water jets on the moon Enceladus that indicate it may have oceans of liquid water beneath its surface.

 

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-15/after-20-years-nasa-says-goodbye-to-cassini/8896296

 

There is a particular frisson in Australia (if you watch and listen to the public broadcaster) because the final transmissions from Cassini will be received at the NASA deep space centre at Tidbinbilla near Canberra (the main radio news bulletin a moment ago covered the impending demise). The ABC is going to broadcast a science special next Tuesday covering the last minutes of Cassini's journey.

[mike carey]

From ABC's breakfast radio program.

http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/breakfast/nasas-cassini-space-craft-to-end-13-year-mission/8948146

 

On Twitter check #CassiniAus

[kewtex]

Interesting thread, @mike carey.

 

Did you know frisson is usually accompanied by piloerection?