The latest news and scientific objectives of the Cassini spacecraft mission to Saturn will be explored at the University of Colorado at Boulder's Fiske Planetarium on Friday, Dec. 5, at 7:30 p.m.
Carolyn Porco, a senior research scientist at the Space Science Institute in Boulder and an adjunct professor at CU-Boulder and the University of Arizona, will present her show "Ten Astronomical Units from the Sun - the Cassini Spacecraft Reaches Saturn."
During her show, Porco will present the scientific objectives of the Cassini mission, its recent findings passing by Jupiter and the expected results at Saturn.
Cassini, the most ambitious interplanetary spacecraft ever built, was launched in 1997 and is expected to reach Saturn in summer 2004. Once it enters Saturn's orbit 10 astronomical units from the sun, or 10 times the distance of the Earth from the sun, it will be the most distant robotic outpost humankind has ever deployed, according to Porco. Its results also may be among the most spectacular gathered by any mission.
The spacecraft's mission is to conduct an in-depth examination of Saturn, its enormous ring system and collection of icy satellites, according to Porco.
Admission for the show is $5 for adults, $4 for students and $3 for children and seniors. The Sommers-Bausch Observatory will be open to the public after the Friday evening show, weather permitting, for viewing of Saturn through the observatory's telescopes.
For more information about Fiske Planetarium and other shows and programs it offers, call (303) 492-5001 or visit the Web site at .