【】
On Wednesday, the Cassini spacecraft makes the first of 22 death-defying dives into the 1,500-mile-wide gap between Saturn and its rings, giving us an unprecedented view of the sixth planet from the sun.
In honor of that maneuver, Google has released an adorable doodle paying tribute to Cassini and Saturn's special relationship.
SEE ALSO:Please send me to Saturn's 'Death Star moon' so that I may climb its mountainsThe animation shows a cartoon version of Cassini diving between Saturn and its rings, taking pictures along the way as the huge planet poses in the foreground.
Credit: googleYep, it's pretty cute.
And if all went according to plan, the doodle isn't all that far off from what's really happening at Saturn today.
Cassini should have made its first dive between Saturn and its rings at about 5 a.m. ET, snapping photos and collecting data using its science instruments on the way down.
Mission controllers won't know if the maneuver was successful until at least 3 a.m. ET, when Cassini is expected to get back in touch with Earth.
We should also get our first look of Cassini's new perspective on Saturn in the wee hours of Thursday morning. (NASA is expected to release images taken during the probe's dive by around 3:30 a.m. ET.)
Cassini is officially at the beginning of the end of its 13 year mission at Saturn.
The spacecraft is expected to make a death dive into Saturn's thick atmosphere, burning up in the process on September 15.
Cassini's last day will be a sad one for space fans. The spacecraft has transformed the way we understand Saturn and its dozens of moons, revealing never-before-seen details of the planetary system and showing us beautiful black and white views of the ringed world.
Until the end comes, however, Cassini should continue sending back photos from its "grand finale" orbit between Saturn and its rings.
Featured Video For You
NASA has discovered a water world in our solar system capable of sustaining life
TopicsGoogle
相关文章
Despite IOC ban, Rio crowds get their political messages across
The Olympics aren't meant to be a place for political expression -- the International Olympic Commit2024-11-10【波盈足球】 世足阿根廷主帥貼心安排 梅西有室友可以陪聊天了 ( 梅西,美聯社 )
【波盈足球】 世足阿根廷主帥貼心安排 梅西有室友可以陪聊天了 ( 梅西,美聯社 )www.ty42.com 日期:2022-12-17 00:00:00| 評論(已有355825條評論)2024-11-10【波盈足球】 世足C羅若接受沙烏地球隊天價合約 可能招致葡萄牙人怒火 ( 世界,葡萄牙 )
【波盈足球】 世足C羅若接受沙烏地球隊天價合約 可能招致葡萄牙人怒火 ( 世界,葡萄牙 )www.ty42.com 日期:2022-12-17 00:00:00| 評論(已有355801條評論)2024-11-10【波盈足球】 世足把C羅丟到板凳引起質疑 葡萄牙教頭桑托斯黯然下台 ( 葡萄牙,羅馬 )
【波盈足球】 世足把C羅丟到板凳引起質疑 葡萄牙教頭桑托斯黯然下台 ( 葡萄牙,羅馬 )www.ty42.com 日期:2022-12-16 00:00:00| 評論(已有355691條評論)2024-11-10'The Flying Bum' aircraft crashes during second test flight
Airlander 10, the world's largest aircraft, on Wednesday crashed at its Cardington Airfield base in2024-11-10