Phoebe flyby

spaceweb@oulu.fi - last update: 24th February 2006 (JV)

Before Cassini arrived at Saturnian system in summer 2004, Cassini had its first close flyby with Saturnian satellite Phoebe on the 11th of June 2004. Phoebe is the furthermost significant Saturnian moon with 215 Saturn radii (Rs=60268) average distance. Other Saturnian bodies in this distance are rather small, under 50 km diameter, and therefore Phoebe, which body radii is 220 km, can be considered as the furthest satellite in Saturnian system. The orbit of Phoebe is very eccentric, and its rotate Saturn in opposite direction than other significant satellites. These details support theories that Phoebe is an asteroid or comet captured by the Saturn gravity, and its origin can be from the further Solar system. The first flyby is also the only one for Cassini, since after orbit insertion the Phoebe is too far for Cassini to approach anymore. The 2000 km closest approach however gave good opportunity to study this icy satellite, and bunch of new knowledge about the body was attained.

The Cassini's approaching flight path and comparison of the orbits of some Saturnian satellites is given in the figure. There is also given some first Cassini orbits around Saturn.

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