Space & Astronomy

Amazing new views of Saturn's rings revealed

By T.K. Randall
May 8, 2017

Image: Saturn from Cassini Orbiter (2004)
Credit: (PD) NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute Back at the end of last month, NASA's Cassini spacecraft survived its first daring plunge between Saturn and its ring system as part of the long-running mission's "Grand Finale".

Now following a second successful dive, the probe has returned even more impressive images which show Saturn's rings in more detail than ever before.

Scientists have also suggesed that the images will get even better over the coming months.

Our latest images are in our raw image gallery. Check them out and share your creations tagged #CassiniInspires. https://t.co/bVFKmnt5be pic.twitter.com/OHn31NK1j6

— CassiniSaturn (@CassiniSaturn) May 5, 2017

"The images from the first pass were great, but we were conservative with the camera settings," said Andrew Ingersoll, one of the members of Cassini's imaging team.

"We plan to make updates to our observations for a similar opportunity on June 29 that we think will result in even better views."

If everything goes according to plan and the probe survives all its dives, Cassini's mission will come to a fiery end when it deliberately plummets in to the planet's atmosphere in September.

Source: Independent

Tags: Cassini, Saturn