[SJAA-announce] Fw: [AANC Contacts] What's Up October

[Bob & Brenda Havner]

On Monday, Cassini celebrates 10th years since launch. 
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press-release-details.cfm?newsID=783<p>

Cassini rode into space October 15, 1997 atop a Titan 4B.  Its 
mission:  to orbit and study the Saturnian system for four years. 
Just this week we can read more exciting headline-grabbing results  - 
this time about Titan's land of lakes and Iapetus' mysterious dark 
side.  http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm<p>

What better than a moon with a mysterious dark side for the October 
(aka Halloween) edition of  "What's Up"?<p>

This month both Titan and mysterious Iapetus can be seen near Saturn, 
when looking through most any telescope. Rhea, Dione and Tethys are 
always easily visible, and they are not shown on the maps,  but 
eassily found in astronomy mags and planetarium programs. <p>

Iapetus has an 89 day orbit, which takes it far from Saturn and the 
other moons usually easily visible though a telescope.  But when the 
small moon is north or south of the planet it is easy to spot.<p>

That's when I try to encourage folks to have a look at this small 
(892 miles diameter) moon, which was discovered by Giovanni Cassini 
in 1671. Don't despair if you don't see it this week.  The next good 
time to Iapetus to the South of Saturn is December 31.  And to the 
north of Saturn November 23.  And you'll also spot Iapetus easily for 
the week or so on both sides of these dates. Next year, when Saturn 
rises earlier in the evening, it won't be such a trick to see it.

Here is where you'll find October What's Up,  Cassini's Iapetus page, 
some Educational activities related to the Saturn system, plus star 
charts for viewing Jupiter, Mars, Venus and of course, Saturn, lord 
of the rings! 
http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html <p>

Jane

-- 
Jane Houston Jones
Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program
JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205
Pasadena, CA  91109  818-393-6435
jane.h.jones at jpl.nasa.gov
Cassini SOC http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm
What's Up? http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html

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