Of all the planets in our Solar System, Saturn is probably the most instantly-recognizable. Its massive, sweeping rings are unmistakable and striking, but where exactly did they come from? Scientists have tossed ideas around and debated the possibilities for a long, long time, but data from the late Cassini spacecraft might finally put the issue …
If you’ve been paying attention to the scientific search for extraterrestrial life you’ll already know that in recent months the frosty Saturn moon Enceladus is looking mighty tempting. The ice-covered ocean world has a steamy hot center and plenty of life-giving water hidden beneath its thick layer of ice, and researchers have determined that if …
Thanks to the efforts of NASA and its incredibly reliable Cassini spacecraft, we now know more about Saturn and its moons than ever before, but it seems there are still some surprises in store for scientists studying the planet and its natural satellites. New research by scientists at the University of Bristol has revealed an …
NASA’s Cassini spacecraft was an incredibly reliable machine, providing an incredible amount of data and relaying countless observations from its orbit around Saturn. It also took some glorious photos during its extended mission, and even though the spacecraft made the ultimate sacrifice by plunging into Saturn in a blaze of glory, we can all still …
Mankind has sent fancy robots and probes to a whole bunch of our nearest planetary neighbors and found nothing to suggest life exists (or ever existed) on them, but if you’ve given up hope that humanity would find extraterrestrial life in our very own Solar System, you might want to rethink that. A new study …
NASA Cassini spacecraft performed its final, fateful dive into Saturn several weeks ago, destroying itself in the planet’s atmosphere and ending an incredible mission that spanned nearly two full decades. Today, even though its mechanical body has been vaporized, the information it sent back during its time in orbit continues to surprise scientists. The most …
NASA’s Cassini spacecraft completed its incredibly successful extended mission last week, punctuated by a fiery death at the hands of Saturn’s upper atmosphere. But just before the orbiter bid farewell it captured an image of an area of Saturn’s rings that scientists still can’t fully explain, and it’s a tantalizing glimpse at one of the …
It’s been NASA’s plan for months, but now that it’s here it’s an incredibly bittersweet moment: Cassini, the spacecraft which has sent back some jaw-dropping images and data from Saturn, is currently making its final plunge towards the planet, and it won’t survive the trip. Bringing an end to its epic 13-year mission, the reliable …
NASA’s Cassini orbiter continues to send back some stunning shots of Saturn even as its days are rapidly coming to an end. The spacecraft’s latest delivery is one of its best yet, offering us a glimpse of Saturn’s rings from the inside, captured by Cassini’s wide-angle camera as it swooped between Saturn and the planet’s …
Humanity hasn’t even scratched the surface of exploring the Milky Way galaxy, much less the rest of the universe, but when it comes to our own Solar System, we have a pretty good idea of what’s here. We know there’s no space-faring races hiding out in the craters of Mars or silently spinning inside of …
