Cassini at Saturn: Huygens Results (Springer Praxis Books / Space Exploration)

Cassini At Saturn – Huygens Results brings the story of the Cassini-Huygens mission and their joint exploration of the Saturnian system right up to date. Cassini entered orbit around Saturn June 2004 so this update includes 8 months of scientific data available for review, including the most spectacular images of Saturn, its rings and satellites ever obtained by a space mission. As the Cassini spacecraft approached its destination in spring 2004, the quality of the images already being returned by the spacecraft clearly demonstrated the spectacular nature of the close-range views that will be obtained. The book contains a 16-page colour section, comprising a carefully chosen selection of the most stunning images to be released during the spacecraft’s initial period of operation. The Huygens craft, released by Cassini, parachuted through the clouds of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan, in January 2005. David Harland tells the exciting story of the this craft’s journey to the surface of one of the most enigmatic bodies on the Solar System, the only moon to have a dense atmosphere and possibly lakes of liquid gas at -190oC on its surface. Titan is considered to be an early Earth in deep freeze, possibly with the building blocks of life in its atmosphere. There will undoubtedly be enormous interest in the first results and images of Titan’s surface, and this book is the first incisive summary of this groundbreaking material. The Cassini Spacecraft Entered Orbit Around Saturn On 1 July 2004. Several Months Later It Released The Huygens Probe Which, On 14 January 2005, Parachuted Through The Clouds Of Saturn's Largest Moon, Titan, And Successfully Landed On Its Surface. In Cassini At Saturn - Huygens Results, David Harland Tells The Story Of This Craft's Journey To The Surface Of One Of The Most Enigmatic Bodies On The Solar System. Titan Is The Only Moon To Have A Dense Atmosphere And There Are Many Large Lakes Of Liquid Hydrocarbons At -190[degrees]c On Its Surface. It Is Considered To Be An Early Earth In Deep Freeze, And May Even Have The Building Blocks Of Life On Its Surface. The Book Reviews The First Two Years Of Scientific Data From Cassini's Tour Of The Saturnian System. During This Time It Has Revealed Astonishing Insights Into Some Of Saturn's Other Moons, Such As Enceladus, Which Has Geysers Of Water At Its South Pole, And Lapetus, One Hemisphere Of Which Is Stained Black. Cassini At Saturn Is The First Book To Appear With An Incisive Summary Of This Groundbreaking Material. It Includes The Latest And Most Spectacular Images From The Mission, Which Have Never Appeared Previously In Book Form. To Provide Background, The Book Starts By Summarising What Was Known Of The System Prior To The Mission.--jacket. Saturn From Afar -- First Close Look -- Saturn Revealed -- The Titans -- Cassini-huygens. D.m. Harland. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. *Brings the story of the Cassini-Huygens mission and their joint exploration of the Saturnian system right up to date. *Combines a review of previous knowledge of Saturn, its rings and moons, including Titan, with new spacecraft results in one handy volume. *Provides the latest and most spectacular images, which will never have appeared before in book form. *Gives a context to enable the reader to more easily appreciate the stream of discoveries that will be made by the Cassini-Huygens mission. *Tells the exciting story of the Huygens spacecraft’s journey to the surface of Titan. Front Matter....Pages i-xxi Saturn from afar....Pages 1-40 First close look....Pages 41-65 Saturn revealed....Pages 67-142 The Titans....Pages 143-171 Cassini-Huygens....Pages 173-344 Back Matter....Pages 345-403