NASA Saturn Mission Prepares for 'Ring-Grazing Orbits'
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Orbit 286 - July 29 - August 4
During this orbit, Cassini’s Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) makes a long observation of Saturn’s northern aurora at an unusually close range, producing some of the highest-resolution auroral images of the entire mission.
Cassini’s Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) observes Saturn’s aurora during this orbit as well. This observation is the closest and highest-resolution auroral observation VIMS makes during Cassini’s entire mission.
The spacecraft’s Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) observes the south polar region of Saturn’s moon Enceladus during this orbit, studying winter temperatures on the moon’s surface. This is the instrument’s last opportunity of the mission to study the temperatures on Enceladus, to help researchers understand how they change over time.
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 1,820 miles (2,920 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,980 miles (4,790 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
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Orbit 287 - August 4 - August 10
During this orbit Cassini’s Ultraviolet Imaging Spectrograph (UVIS) observes Saturn’s northern aurora, attempting to capture the entire auroral oval over several observations.
The spacecraft’s imaging cameras, the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS), performs the first of two final observations of one of Saturn’s tiny, irregular moons, named Kiviuq, which completes about 80 percent of one rotation during Cassini’s observation. The observation is intended to improve models of the moon’s shape and other of Kiviuq’s characteristics.
The ISS instrument also targets one of Saturn’s ring propeller features, and also continues its campaign of observing Saturn’s moon Titan for two segments of time, each lasting several hours, to image the moon’s atmosphere and surface, in particular to watch Titan’s clouds form and change. The spacecraft’s Composite Infrared Spectrometer (CIRS) and Visible and Infrared Mapping Spectrometer (VIMS) observe Titan as well.
Also during this orbit, the spacecraft rolls to calibrate Cassini’s magnetometer (MAG).
During this orbit, Cassini gets within 1,830 miles (2,940 kilometers) of Saturn’s 1-bar level. Cassini also passes within 2,960 miles (4,760 kilometers) of the inner edge of Saturn’s D ring.
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