NASA Cassini Spacecraft Makes Close Flyby of Saturns Moon, Hyperion

NASA's Cassini spacecraft is getting a closer look at Saturn's moon, Hyperion. The mission officially made its final close approach on Sunday, May 31.

The Saturn-orbiting spacecraft passed the irregularly shaped moon at a distance of just 21,000 miles at 9:36 a.m. EDT. Researchers hope to see different terrain on Hyperion once the images are beamed back to Earth. However, this isn't guaranteed. Hyperion rotates chaotically, which means that it's challenging to target a specific region of the moon's surface. In fact, most of Cassini's previous close approaches have encountered the same familiar side of the craggy moon.

Hyperion has an unusual, sponge-like appearance which researchers attribute to its unusual low density. The moon is porous with weak surface gravity, which means that impactors tend to compress the surface, rather than excavating it, and most material that is blown off the surface never returns.

The next notable flyby for Cassini will occur on June 16. This is when the spacecraft will pass just 321 miles above icy Dione. This particular flyby will be the second to last approach to that moon. Then, in October, Cassini will make two close flybys of the active moon Enceladus with its jets of icy spray. It will come as close as 30 miles to the surface during its final pass. It's likely that Cassini will continue to make new discoveries before its final mission, which includes repeatedly diving through the space between Saturn and its rings.

For more information about the Cassini mission, visit NASA's website.

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