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Nasa's Cassini probe has tumbled into a new orbit that has given it a spectacular new view of the planet's most famous feature - its rings, giant orbiting discs made of water ice and dust.
The new views Cassini has captured are the sharpest the probe has 'seen' in years - and are allowing scientists to track tiny 'mini-moons' within the rings, carving out trails in the ice as they orbit the huge planet, the solar system's second largest
It has been two years since Cassini has had such clear views of Saturn's rings.
The Nasa team behind the probe say, 'These views are possible again because Cassini has changed the angle at which it orbits Saturn and regularly passes above and below Saturn's equatorial plane.
'Steeply inclined orbits around the Saturn system also allow scientists to get better views of the poles and atmosphere of Saturn and its moons.'
The new views Cassini has captured are the sharpest the probe has 'seen' in years - and are allowing scientists to track tiny 'mini-moons' within the rings, carving out trails in the ice as they orbit the huge planet, the solar system's second largest
It has been two years since Cassini has had such clear views of Saturn's rings.
The Nasa team behind the probe say, 'These views are possible again because Cassini has changed the angle at which it orbits Saturn and regularly passes above and below Saturn's equatorial plane.
'Steeply inclined orbits around the Saturn system also allow scientists to get better views of the poles and atmosphere of Saturn and its moons.'
Mysteries of Saturn revealed: Nasa probe captures clearest views of planet's rings - and the tiny 'mini-moons' swimming inside them
The new views Cassini has captured are the sharpest the probe has 'seen' in years - and are allowing scientists to track tiny 'mini-moons' within the rings, carving out trails in the ice as they orbit the huge planet, the solar system's second largest.
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