[olePigeon]

APOD: 2011 March 15 - Cassini Approaches Saturn

This is one of the coolest videos I've seen: a full motion video created using thousands of photos taken by the Cassini space craft around Saturn.

[LegendaryPinkOx]

To quote a random Beck sample, "That's beautiful, Dad."

The first few to me look more like a "no-clip" Gary's Mod space map (i.e. like a video game flyby rather than actual images), especially when flying through the rings. I was expecting more of a 'Next Generation intro' gig, but instead got a blurred 2 dimensional disc. However, considering the immense distances in play here, it was absurd of me to expect more.

I'm impressed.

[The Final Dakar]

If this is what I saw last week, I was a little confused as to why the moons didn't seem to be moving as time elapsed.

[LegendaryPinkOx]

Given the size of Saturn (it has a mass 95 times that of earth) I'm guessing the lunar cycles are much longer. Factor in that the camera was traveling on approach at 80,000 kilometers per hour, and then slowed to 77,900 kph as it entered orbit (Cassini Solstice Mission: Ring World Transcript), I'd say that anything viewed from those speeds would seem rather still, even after time elapse.

But that is the way I see it.

[osiris]

Amazing. Looks fake though.

[The Final Dakar]

The other thing that surprises me is around :35 all the moons are on the same plane, lined like houses on a block. Amazing timing? Common occurrence?

[Laminar]

Obligatory movie quote anyone?

[Spheric Harlot]

That's no moon.

[Uncle Skeleton]

Where's the video? oh it's the picture

[ebuddy]

Likely a stupid question that one of our resident experts can address, but uh... how is Cassini flying through the icy-chunked rings of Saturn, multiple times with nary a hiccup in its path or the photos taken of it?

[osiris]

Originally Posted by The Final Dakar 

The other thing that surprises me is around :35 all the moons are on the same plane, lined like houses on a block. Amazing timing? Common occurrence?

Yes, I found that interesting as well. The only thing I can think of is that the mission was planned for the alignment. That or the whole thing was shot on a lot in Universal.

[The Final Dakar]

It appears to be fully operational.

[osiris]

sweet.

[olePigeon]

Originally Posted by ebuddy 

Likely a stupid question that one of our resident experts can address, but uh... how is Cassini flying through the icy-chunked rings of Saturn, multiple times with nary a hiccup in its path or the photos taken of it?

Cassini was still several million kilometers away from Saturn when those pictures were taken, it didn't actually go through the rings. The images were cropped. The parts where it looks like it goes through the rings, if you were to zoom out the whole picture, you'd see it was still well clear of the rings. Remember, you can fit over 750 planet Earths inside Saturn. It's huge! To actually get Saturn and its rings in your picture, you have to pretty far back.