enceladus5      

2010-04-10 09:40:29

Nice closeup image of Epimetheus. Nice to see images of this co-orbital moon.

shobhitg      

2010-03-08 09:48:09

Hi Cassini Team, Do we have any time lapse video of the orbital swap of Janus and Epimetheus? Hoping for any updates on that. regards, Cassini fan

thetonster      

2009-07-29 20:59:36

Carolyn, PIA11544, or Cas5689-13230-2 seems to show a brightening in the widest part of Epimetheus’ shadow. I don’t recall any through-holes in any pictures of that little ice ball, nor did they reveal it to be washer-shaped. Pray tell, how can a shadow behave this way? Is Epi the same angular size as the Sun just now, and therefore this becomes an interior diffraction spot? It is mighty intriguing.

mipsandbips      

2009-07-10 19:06:52

Compared to the image "Groundhog Day on Saturn" (image 3/23/09), the elapsed time between the capture of these two images is about 19 weeks. The camera angle view here in contrast to that image is a difference of 86 degrees. Revisiting the "Groundhog Day" photo reveals a very thick and dark shadow of Epimetheus across the A ring taken on 1/8/09 which was below the ring plane. Here, at the above angle ring plane view, the shadow cast onto the A ring is much lighter, thinner and narrow and stretches further towards the Encke gap than the image in "Groundhog Day".

Mercury_3488      

2008-08-14 06:51:30

Great image. Saw this once before as a shadowy noisey raw image. It's great to see that some of the smaller moons are also being researched like Hyperion, Janus, Epimetheus, Helene, Telesto, Phoebe, etc. Wonder if Janus is like Epimetheus, an icy rubble pile held together by gravity? Does anyone know when the Helene encounter will be? Is there any chance of a close passes of Calypso, Telesto (again) Polydeuces, etc? Andrew Brown.

Mercury_3488      

2008-02-27 17:24:34

Hi DEChengst, I agree with you about the nonsense regarding the Plutonium issue regarding Galileo & Jupiter. I was aware of certain elements against that plan for the fear of Jupiter becoming a second Sun due to Galileo's RTG. It was total nonsense back then as it is nonsense that Cassini will do that with Saturn. Gort asked a good question as he / she was not probably not aware of the non issue involved, perhaps heard scare stories from somewhere. I responded saying that Cassini cannot initiate thermonuclear synthesis within Saturn. Cassini will not last more than seconds after atmospheric entry, will be incinerated as a shooting star in Saturn's highest atmosphere. I was aware that Pu238 is the wrong isotope for nuclear fission. It is the heat from its natural decay that is powering Cassini. It is not even a nuclear reaction at all & that the RTGs are NOT nuclear reactors. Remember the nonsense about the campaign to abandon the Earth encounter post launch, due to unjustified panicking over Cassini re entering Earth's atmosphere Thanks Carolyn, I was not aware that even the first mission extension was not yet approved. I am sure & hope that it will be granted. The second one should also. I agree with you 100%, that the Kronian Solstices would be of very scientific value, if Cassini is still operational & controllable then. Like the recent Janus & Titan images. Although still iregular in shape, Janus appears more 'regular' than co-orbital / orbital swap mate Epimetheus. Wonder if Janus's larger size & mass are responsible. Primary mission still up & Cassini still performs as well as when had just arrived. I am sure mission extension will happen. Andrew Brown.

Red_dragon      

2008-02-21 03:32:17

As with other similar images, the best is the way the NAC comprises perspective and makes Epimetheus to appear "glued" to the ring in a so dramatic way.

Mercury_3488      

2008-02-03 11:59:29

Most of these smaller moons appear to be 'rubble piles' of ice & maybe rock. Epimetheus, Janus, Hyperion, Telesto, Calypso, Polydeuces, Helene, etc. Phoebe appears to be more coherent, but then Phoebe most likely formed elsewhere, maybe the Kuiper Belt, got ejected & then captured by Saturn later on. The other smaller Saturn moons & Jupiter's Amalthea, appear to be rubble piles held together by gravity.

Red_dragon      

2008-01-25 15:50:34

Yes, it may be so; I think now I can see the crater. It's a luck for Epimetheus to be a porous, low-density body: if it was solid, surely it would have been destroyed.

Red_dragon      

2007-12-27 02:31:28

Fantastic image, as usual. Epimetheus, by the way, is HARD to find; I've found just its shadow.