[meteorite-list] Cassini: Tethys and Hyperion Flybys on September 24 & 26

From: Ron Baalke <baalke_at_meteoritecentral.com>
Date: Thu Sep 22 12:32:23 2005
Message-ID: <200509221631.j8MGV8g10472_at_zagami.jpl.nasa.gov>

http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/events/tethys-hyperion/index.cfm

Tethys and Hyperion Flyby - Sept. 24 and 26, 2005

This week Cassini will play a doubleheader with two flybys of Saturn's
moon's Tethys (Sept. 24) and Hyperion (Sept. 26). Cassini will be
eye-to-eye with Tethys' giant Odysseus impact-crater. Cassini's close
brush with the chaotic, tumbling Hyperion might tell us whether it is
a rubble pile.

Scientists also hope to be able to shed more light on the following:

    * The origin of the huge canyon-like feature named Ithaca Chasma on
      Tethys is not completely understood, but it might be related to
      the impact that created Odysseus.

    * Hyperion's elliptical orbit and irregular shape influence its
      chaotic tumbling, which may have started after a giant impact with
      another body.

Tethys and Hyperion at a Glance

Tethys Flyby
Sept. 24, 2005

Distance
1,503 km (994 miles)

Hyperion Flyby
Sept. 26, 2005

Distance
505 km (314 miles)
Received on Thu 22 Sep 2005 12:31:07 PM PDT