pio11_v_c_o_TPMBK (AC79-9111.4)**
This Pioneer 11 photograph of Saturn’s rings, supposedly taken on August 31, 1979, at a distance of 943,000 km (585,950 miles) from the planet, revealed amazing detail (for that time). Although now crude & primitive, this historic photograph revealed a new feature in the Cassini Division (commonly referred to as the ‘Cassini Gap’ previously), new features in the A-Ring, the discovery of the F-Ring, and a new moon, then designated 1979-S1. Although some uncertainty exists, the moon was likely/possibly Epimetheus, named so in 1983, following higher resolution imaging by the Voyager 1 spacecraft, along with more refined orbital calculations. However, caveat to the above is a reference to Epimetheus (at an ‘official’ NASA website mind you) as 1980-S3, so call it whatever you want. Tethys is to the upper left.
I clearly remember this photograph and its revelatory significance, so I naively expected a Google image search to reveal a JPL photo ID number…accompanied by a well-written & informative description.
NOPE. Nothing. Nada. Squat. Zip. Zilch. Zed. ZERO. What the hell was I thinking? The Ames Research Center photo ID hand-written on the verso also yields nothing.
So, the above is my take from the content available at the following. Better than nothing:
On page 123:
atmos.nmsu.edu/data_and_services/atmospheres_data/SATURN/...
And:
www.nasa.gov/image-feature/45-years-ago-pioneer-11-launch...
Specifically:
www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/ac79-91...
Finally:
www.fossilhunters.xyz/saturn-ring-system/encounters-with-...
Credit: Dennis Larson/"Fossil Hunters" blogsite
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epimetheus_(moon)
Credit: Wikipedia
solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/saturn-moons/epimetheus/in-dep...
pio11_v_c_o_TPMBK (AC79-9111.4)**
This Pioneer 11 photograph of Saturn’s rings, supposedly taken on August 31, 1979, at a distance of 943,000 km (585,950 miles) from the planet, revealed amazing detail (for that time). Although now crude & primitive, this historic photograph revealed a new feature in the Cassini Division (commonly referred to as the ‘Cassini Gap’ previously), new features in the A-Ring, the discovery of the F-Ring, and a new moon, then designated 1979-S1. Although some uncertainty exists, the moon was likely/possibly Epimetheus, named so in 1983, following higher resolution imaging by the Voyager 1 spacecraft, along with more refined orbital calculations. However, caveat to the above is a reference to Epimetheus (at an ‘official’ NASA website mind you) as 1980-S3, so call it whatever you want. Tethys is to the upper left.
I clearly remember this photograph and its revelatory significance, so I naively expected a Google image search to reveal a JPL photo ID number…accompanied by a well-written & informative description.
NOPE. Nothing. Nada. Squat. Zip. Zilch. Zed. ZERO. What the hell was I thinking? The Ames Research Center photo ID hand-written on the verso also yields nothing.
So, the above is my take from the content available at the following. Better than nothing:
On page 123:
atmos.nmsu.edu/data_and_services/atmospheres_data/SATURN/...
And:
www.nasa.gov/image-feature/45-years-ago-pioneer-11-launch...
Specifically:
www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/thumbnails/image/ac79-91...
Finally:
www.fossilhunters.xyz/saturn-ring-system/encounters-with-...
Credit: Dennis Larson/"Fossil Hunters" blogsite
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Epimetheus_(moon)
Credit: Wikipedia
solarsystem.nasa.gov/moons/saturn-moons/epimetheus/in-dep...