Cassini ends August with back-to-back fly-bys of Rhea and then Titan.
Saturn's two largest moons meet in the sky in a rare embrace. Smog-enshrouded Titan (5,150 kilometers, or 3,200 miles across) glows to the left of airless Rhea (1,528 kilometers, or 949 miles across).
Cassini's Double Flyby of Rhea and Titan
Cassini ends August with back-to-back fly-bys of Rhea and then Titan.
First up, on Aug. 30, the spacecraft flies within 5,737 kilometers (3,565 miles) of Saturn's second largest moon, Rhea. The icy moon provides a stark contrast to the atmosphere-rich Titan, which gets its close up this time from 3,326 kilometers (2,066 miles) the next day. These fly-bys set up a close encounter with Iapetus on Sept. 10, 2007
Rhea and Titan at a Glance
Tethys Flyby
Aug 30, 2007
Altitude
3,565 miles (5,737 km)
Titan Flyby
Aug. 31, 2007
Distance
2,066 miles (3,326 km)
Speed
14,000 mph (6.1 km/sec)
