NASA/JPL Cassini with Huygens probe intact

Have you been keeping up with Cassini?  Today (April 27th Pacific and April 28th UTC) it’s scheduled to make a flyby of Enceladus, passing as close as 60 miles above the surface of the moon.  According to the mission counter, the closest point in the flyby will be at about 7pm CDT, April 27th – United States.

NASA/JPL artist's conception of Enceladus flyby

Cassini will fly through the water-rich plumes over the moon’s south polar region.  In addition, Cassini scientists will be conducting gravity studies on this flyby which will help determine what lies beneath the ice crust on the surface of Enceladus.

NASA/JPL South Pole of Enceladus

All the data we have up to this point indicates there is an ocean of liquid water under the ice crust.  Because of this, Enceladus looks very likely to be a source of life.

NASA/JPL Close-up of South Pole region of Enceladus

I would really, REALLY like to get a sample from those plumes under my microscope.

Can I look? Oh-please-oh-please-oh-please!