Exploring Saturn With Cassini

Cassini Mission Project Scientist Linda Spilker returns with the latest discoveries at the beautiful ringed planet, its moons and its rings. Emily Lakdawalla has assembled a crazy animation of distant Earth from a long dormant but just reawakened space camera. Bill Nye the Science Guy provides ample evidence that space has become a marketplace. A family of accomplished astronomers provides the answer to this week’s space trivia contest in our What’s Up segment, along with a new opportunity to win OK Go swag.

Related Links:

• Planetary Radio Extra: Casey Dreier and Jason Callahan Explore the 2017 NASA Budget Request
• Cassini Solstice Mission
• Unusual Red Arcs Spotted on Icy Saturn Moon
• JPL and the Community
• ESA Activates a New Old Space Camera
• Follow Emily Lakdawalla on Twitter
• “The Age of Wonder”—Highly-recommended book about 18th century science and scientists, including William Herschel
• Catching the Wave at JPL: Planetary Radio Joined the "Wave at Saturn"

This week's prize is an OK Go t-shirt signed by band members Damian Kulash and Tim Nordwind, along with a Planetary Radio t-shirt signed by...?.

This week's question:

In millions of kilometers, how far from the Sun is Mercury at its closest and farthest points in its orbit?

To submit your answer:

Complete the contest entry form at http://planetary.org/radiocontest or write to us at [email protected] no later than Tuesday, March 1st at 8am Pacific Time. Be sure to include your name and mailing address.

Last week's question:

What is the peak wavelength of the Sun’s electromagnetic radiation to the nearest 100 nanometers?

Answer:

The answer will be revealed next week.

Question from the week before:

What was famous astronomer Herschel’s first and middle names?

Answer:

We’d have accepted Friedrich Wilhelm, Frederick William, Caroline Lucretia, or John Frederick William Herschel!