NASA is saying that the Spacecraft Cassini will pass by Saturn's walnut-shaped moon lapetus on Sept 10, getting within about 1,000 miles.
It will be the last time the spacecraft will aim its instruments at the moon.
lapetus spun fast, froze young, has a ridge of large mountains, has a distinct difference in the brightness of its leading and trailing hemispheres.
The objective of the flyby:
1. characterize the chemical composition of the surface;
2. look for evidence of a faint atmosphere or erupting gas plumes;
3. map the nighttime temperature of the surface.
Cassini's Synthetic Aperture Radar can perform radar imaging for scientists to bicker, debate and come to no conclusion about.
It will, however, be nice to have some pictures.
We can't even determine what it is that we see in our digital cameras here on earth, much less figure out what is on/near Saturn, a half dozen planets away.
But...it's fun to look up and dream and wonder. No?
That's what education is all about.
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