Tethys Flyby

The Cassini probe is continuing its exploration of the Saturn system, most recently with flybys of Tethys and Hyperion. The photo at right is a remarkable close-up of the surface of Tethys; many more are posted on the Cassini site. On the flybys:

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.

Click on the photo for larger view. Better yet, go visit the Cassini site and see the rest of them!

Snow Kiting

What do you do for sport if you're stationed on Antarctica? Snow kiting, of course:

Although we have an abundance of snow round here, one thing which we lack is mountains or even small hills. Not to be deterred, snowboarding types have been bringing their boards down here for years to try out skijuring. Skijuring is basically a cross between water-skiing and snowboarding, using a skidoo instead of a powerboat. You get on your snowboard, hold on to a rope that's tied to the skidoo and get pulled around at high speed!

This looks like a lot of fun to me! It's got speed, skill, and an exotic environment — the only thing missing is the wildlife...

Go read all about it, and check out the rest of the pictures, at 75 Degrees South.

As usual, click on the photo for a larger view.