Cassini to Saturn: The Journey and the Legacy

Twenty-six years ago, the United States and Europe joined hands and set off together on a spectacular adventure.�It was a mission named Cassini and it called for a journey across the solar system and into orbit around Saturn, followed�by an in-depth, comprehensive look at everything in the Saturn system.

Cassini is now in its 13th year in orbit around Saturn. In that time, it has revealed a planetary system rich in scientific�wonder and splendor beyond compare. Processes at work in the early solar system have been found within Saturn's�rings. The planet itself has been a lavish source of meteorological detail, permitting comparison with the Earth's�atmosphere. And environments found on and within its moons give hope of learning the mechanisms by which life has�arisen on our own planet.

In this presentation, Carolyn Porco, the�leader of Cassini's imaging team, will guide us through the enchanting realm of Saturn and the mission's most profound�scientific findings, and conclude with the legacy that Cassini will ultimately leave behind.