The Week in SpaceAugust 24-30, 2009
Enceladus Erupts onto the Scene Two hundred and twenty years ago this week, British astronomer Sir William Herschel discovered Enceladus, the sixth largest moon of Saturn. Although its orbital period around Saturn was confirmed by subsequent telescopic observations, little more was learned about Enceladus until the Voyager flyby missions of 1980 and 1981. They showed Enceladus to possess a youthful, highly reflective surface. Because Enceladus is embedded in Saturn’s diffuse E ring, scientists speculated that the moon was the source of the material that comprised the ring. In 2006, that theory was confirmed by the Cassini spacecraft, which discovered water vapor and complex hydrocarbons venting from the geologically active South Polar Region, as seen in this false color image. Image credit:NASA / JPL / CalTech Weekly CalendarAugust 24-30, 2009Holidays - Sky Events - Space History
Mercury at greatest elongation (27° E) |
Customer Comment
I buy it every year - terrific photos and interesting Astronomy photos. I am getting one for a friend at work too.--Michael L., Gymea, Australia
Monday 24
Tuesday 25
Wednesday 26
Thursday 27
Friday 28
Saturday 29
Sunday 30
Suggestions for new history dates or better links? Corrections for errors on this page? Please e-mail me.