Saturn special: Ringing the changes

• 13 January 2006
• Ralph Lorenz
• Magazine issue 2534

Cassini: Mission to Saturn special report. Catch the latest astounding discoveries in Cassini's $3 billion, 4-year tour of the Ringed Planet, plus our Expert Guide including a new Instant Expert, FAQ and more…

SATURN is the jewel of the solar system. Its beautiful rings make the second largest planet unique. Together with its diverse collection of moons and unusual magnetic field, they put the entire planetary system high on space scientists' itinerary of worlds to explore.

Now at last we are getting the chance. The Cassini spacecraft arrived at Saturn 18 months ago after a seven-year journey. It is armed with a massive arsenal of instruments that cannot help but batter answers out of Saturn. And it has not disappointed so far: Cassini has already scrutinised many facets of this marvellous world and is overturning much of what we thought we knew about it.

Saturn's ...