Cassini's Last Images

  • Released Monday, March 19, 2018
  • Updated Thursday, March 22, 2018 at 11:13AM
  • ID: 12735
Stunning views from Cassini's last month at Saturn.

Stunning views from Cassini's last month at Saturn.

Learn about Cassini's Grand Finale at the end of its 13 years at Saturn.

The left image taken in 2001 was one of the first Cassini took of Saturn. The right image from Sept. 14, 2017 was one of its last.

The left image taken in 2001 was one of the first Cassini took of Saturn. The right image from Sept. 14, 2017 was one of its last.

Saturn's rings are made of ice, dust and rock, ranging in size from small grains to as big as a house. Why they formed remains a mystery.

Saturn's rings are made of ice, dust and rock, ranging in size from small grains to as big as a house. Why they formed remains a mystery.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft gazed toward the northern hemisphere of Saturn to spy subtle, multi-hued bands in the clouds there.

NASA's Cassini spacecraft gazed toward the northern hemisphere of Saturn to spy subtle, multi-hued bands in the clouds there.

The lighter area below Saturn's moon Enceladus is a plume of icy spray from its interior where an underground ocean lurks.

The lighter area below Saturn's moon Enceladus is a plume of icy spray from its interior where an underground ocean lurks.

The last image Cassini sent back on Sept. 15, 2017 shows the area where it would impact Saturn's atmosphere.

The last image Cassini sent back on Sept. 15, 2017 shows the area where it would impact Saturn's atmosphere.

For More Information

See https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/mission/grand-finale/why-cassini-matters/

Credits

Please give credit for this item to:
NASA's Scientific Visualization Studio and NASA/Jet Propulsion Laboratory-Caltech

More images available at: https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/
http://ciclops.org/ir_index/208/In-Orbit
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/7792/
https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/resources/7770/

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