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NASA's Cassini spacecraft has sent to Earth its first views of Saturn’s atmosphere since beginning the latest phase of its mission.
The new images show scenes from high above Saturn's northern hemisphere, including the planet's intriguing hexagon-shaped jet stream.
Cassini began its new mission phase, called its Ring-Grazing Orbits, on Nov. 30. Each of these weeklong orbits – 20 in all – carries the spacecraft high above Saturn's northern hemisphere before sending it skimming past the outer edges of the planet's main rings.
Cassini’s imaging cameras acquired these latest views on Dec. 2 and 3, about two days before the first ring-grazing approach to the planet. Future passes will include images from near closest approach, including some of the closest-ever views of the outer rings and small moons that orbit there.
“This is it, the beginning of the end of our historic exploration of Saturn. Let these images – and those to come – remind you that we’ve lived a bold and daring adventure around the solar system’s most magnificent planet,” said Carolyn Porco, Cassini imaging team lead at Space Science Institute, Boulder, Colorado.
The next pass by the rings' outer edges is planned for Dec. 11. The ring-grazing orbits will continue until April 22, when the last close flyby of Saturn's moon Titan will once again reshape Cassini's flight path. With that encounter, Cassini will begin its Grand Finale, leaping over the rings and making the first of 22 plunges through the 1,500-mile-wide gap between Saturn and its innermost ring on April 26.
On Sept. 15, the mission's planned conclusion will be a final dive into Saturn's atmosphere. During its plunge, Cassini will transmit data about the atmosphere's composition until its signal is lost.
Launched in 1997, Cassini has been touring the Saturn system since arriving in 2004 for an up-close study of the planet, its rings and moons.
Cassini has made numerous dramatic discoveries, including a global ocean with indications of hydrothermal activity within the moon Enceladus, and liquid methane seas on another moon, Titan.
For details about Cassini's ring-grazing orbits, visit https://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/2966/ring-grazing-orbits .
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Italian Space Agency. NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of Caltech in Pasadena, manages the mission for NASA's Science Mission Directorate, Washington. JPL designed, developed and assembled the Cassini orbiter.
Jonathan W. R. Davies
May 29, 1963 – Nov. 20, 2016
LAKEPORT, Calif. – Dr. Jonathan W. R. Davies of Lakeport, passed away on Sunday, Nov. 20, 2016, at age 53.
He was the fourth child born to Clifford and Beryl Davies on May 29, 1963, on the island of Guernsey in the British Isles.
Jonathan came to Lake County in 2001 and opened his private practice in obstetrics and gynecology.
He joined the staff at Sutter Lakeside Hospital where he currently served as director of Women's Care as well as serving on the Medical Executive Committee.
He also served in the past as chief of staff, as a member of the board of directors and was chosen as Physician of the Year.
Jonathan had a passion for medicine, for women's health and for bringing new life into this world. He loved nature and enjoyed many outdoor activities.
Jonathan is survived by his wife of 16 years, Lisa Davies; his older brothers, Stephan and Phillip Davies; older sister, Elisabeth Tegeler; children, Caitlin, Christopher, Jennifer, Alexis and Alyssa; step-children, Cameron, Shelby and Brooklyn; and step-grandson, Cabe. He is predeceased by his parents.
At Jonathan's request, there will be no services. A memorial fund has been established at Umpqua bank for his children.
Jonathan was an asset to our medical community and will be missed greatly by many.
Arrangements by Chapel of the Lakes Mortuary at 707-263-0357 or 707-994-5611, or visit www.chapelofthelakes.com .
UKIAH, Calif. – The Associated Students of Mendocino College and college staff joined efforts to provide a free holiday meal to students on Tuesday, Dec. 6, inside the Student Center.
The Associated Students supplied turkey, ham and mashed potatoes and college staff brought salads, rolls, vegetables and stuffing.
The management group also provided pumpkin pies, whip cream, green beans and all of the paper products.
More than 150 students participated and were extremely appreciative of the free hot meal.
Twenty lucky students also walked away with $25 gift cards generously provided by Schat’s Bakery and Café and the Mendocino College Foundation.
“This is just another way we work together to support our students at Mendocino College. This event is so well attended each year and with everyone’s participation, it has become an annual event,” said Ulises Velasco, interim Dean of Student Services.
For more information about Mendocino College, visit www.mendocino.edu .
NORTH COAST, Calif. – Santa’s helpers at Savings Bank invite the community to help spread some holiday cheer by assisting local Christmas Efforts.
Tags are available at Savings Bank in Lakeport for the Lake Family Resource Center Christmas Wish Tree.
Stop by the branch at 290 S. Main St. to select a tag to help fulfill the wish lists of needy children in Lake Family Resource Center's domestic violence, sexual assault, differential response, teen parenting, nurturing parenting, Early Head Start and behavioral health programs.
Elsewhere in the bank's coverage area, Ukiah Valley Christmas Effort collection bins are available at Savings Bank on School Street and Airport Park Boulevard in Ukiah as well as the Hopland branch and Redwood Valley branch. Toys and nonperishable food items may be dropped off at any of these locations.
The Ukiah Valley Christmas Effort reports that the popular requests for the younger children this year include: baby dolls and Barbie dolls with accessories, Shopkins, Frozen, Monster High, Trolls, action figures, remote control vehicles, Legos, art supplies, books and sports balls.
Popular requests for the older children this year include: board games, art supplies, headphones, earbuds, books, cosmetics, jewelry, hair accessories and styling tools, remote control vehicles, and gift cards to local restaurants, stores and the movie theater.
The Savings Bank branch in Mendocino accepts nonperishable food donations for the Fort Bragg Food Bank all year long. During the Christmas season they also accept food and toy donations for the Mendocino Presbyterian Church Christmas Effort.
The Fort Bragg and Mendocino branch employees also partner with the Operation Christmas Angel program.
The local Social Services office provides the names, ages, genders and wish lists of the children on the Mendocino coast who are enrolled with Social Services. Stop by either location to pick an “Angel” and then return a gift for that child.
The employees at the Savings Bank Willits branch invite the community to stop by to select a tag for the 28th annual Kids Christmas Program which is sponsored by the Willits Wild Bunch and the Rotary Club of Willits. These gifts will be delivered to children in need by Santa and his helpers!
In Laytonville, the community is encouraged to stop by Savings Bank to drop off nonperishable food items and toys which will be distributed by the Laytonville Food Bank.
CLEARLAKE, Calif. – Due to the wet weather, the “Warm for the Winter” clothing giveaway, originally scheduled for Saturday, Dec. 10, has been postponed a week.
It has been rescheduled for 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 17, and will be located indoors at the Clearlake Youth Center at 4570 Golf, Clearlake.
Hot cocoa and goodies will be served.
Clothing donations will be accepted through Dec. 17. They are still in need of children's coats, gloves and clothing, as well as sleeping bags, tents and tarps.
The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation’s (CDCR) Office of Victim and Survivor Rights and Services (OVSRS) announced they will begin using the new Automated Email Notification Services to better serve and communicate with crime victims starting in December 2016.
The new Automated Email Notification Services will allow for a 90-day in advance email notification of release to crime victims whose offender is in CDCR custody.
The system also will be able to immediately email victims and notify them of an escape or death of an offender. With the addition of this new service, CDCR will discontinue sending notifications through the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) service effective Dec. 31, 2016.
In an effort to streamline notification requests and offender updates, CDCR began providing more electronic tools and services to victims and their family members over the past year.
For instance, during this year’s National Crime Victims’ Rights Week, OVSRS unveiled the new e1707, Request for Victim Services web form, which gives victims and their family members the option of using online services from their smartphone or any computer.
This electronic service allows the victim to update their contact information and change requested services quickly and on their own time. Also, the CDCR Inmate ID Locator, http://inmatelocator.cdcr.ca.gov allows victims and other members of the public to confirm an offender’s CDCR number and current prison location any time of the day.
Currently, CDCR delivers more than 20,000 notifications every year to victims of CDCR offenders. CDCR has approximately 117,000 offenders in its 35 institutions and another 14,000 offenders in its out-of-state correctional facilities, community correctional facilities and conservation camps.
If you or a family member is a victim of a crime, it is vital that you register for available services provided by CDCR.
Registering with the department will allow you access to a menu of services including notification of release, escape or death of an offender, collection of court ordered restitution, assistance with the parole hearing process and requests for special conditions of parole.
Also, if you have been a victim in the past of an offender that is currently in a CDCR prison or has been under the jurisdiction of CDCR in the past, OVSRS may have collected restitution on your behalf.
Contact CDCR toll free at 1-877-256-6877 or via email at
Crime victims can register for services online at https://e1707.cdcr.ca.gov/ .