Slideshows from Class:

Orbits, Brahe, and Kepler

Weighing the Earth

Weighing the Earth (narrated)

General Relativity

General Relativity (narrated)

Click the image for a an introduction to what gravitational waves are and how we detect them.

Reference trajectory for Cassini's extended Solstice Mission, 2010—2017. Click the image for a full-size view. Cassini's seven-year Solstice Mission, consisting of 155 orbits, is the final installment of the Mission's exploration of the Saturnian system. This phase began following completion of the four-year Prime Mission in orbit at Saturn from 2004 to 2008, and the Equinox Mission through 2010. The Solstice Mission draws upon the remainder of the spacecraft's propellant reserves, and disposes of the spent vehicle, fulfilling planetary protection requirements. Different colors represent the eight categories of orbits, which by design were grouped to meet scientific objectives that require similar geometries, conserving propellent. In particular, note the 22 Proximal orbits, at 62° inclination in dark blue, in which periapsis occurs between the rings and atmosphere. The final red orbit intersects the planet to end the mission.

Source: https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/basics/bsf13-1.php

(q = mass ratio, e = eccentricity)

Created by Adrian Price-Whelan (@adrianprw)

Creative Commons CC-BY-SA license

Click the image to see the orbits animated.