A/Prof Michael Burton explaining the Saturnian system

After a 7 year waltz through the Solar System with four gravity assisted sling-shots past the inner planets, NASA’s Cassini probe finally entered orbit around Saturn in July 2004. The suite of powerful instruments and cameras on board are set to probe the gas giant planet, its spectacular ring system and its many moons in unprecedented detail over the next four years. In January 2005, the mission caught the public imagination as the European Space Agency’s Huygens probe was jettisoned from Cassini and with a system of 3 parachutes landed gracefully on the surface of Saturn’s largest moon, Titan. The images returned by the probe as it descended through Titan’s thick, smog-like atmosphere revealed a surface strikingly similar to Earth with mountains, coast lines and river channels formed, not by water, but liquid methane.

In response to the public’s curiosity, the UNSW Astrophysics department organised an evening of talks detailing Cassini/Huygens journey and the Saturnian system, followed by the opportunity to see Saturn and its moons at the observatory. Due to demand, the event on February 14 was quickly extended from one to three sessions. The evening ran smoothly with enthusiastic and appreciative audiences of families and young couples out on Valentines day. The weather was kind and many people were amazed at the clarity of Saturn’s ring system seen through the telescopes and the fact they could actually see the larger moons. After the official viewing ended, most people remained behind at the observatory to explore the Southern Sky. The feedback from the evening was extremely positive – another successful outreach session!

Steve Longmore