---
author: Eric Wagoner
date: '2000-10-11T12:16:20'
draft: false
title: The Cassini spacecraft, on its
---

The Cassini spacecraft, on its way to a 2004 meeting with Saturn, is nearing Jupiter for a slingshot boost. [Here's a wonderful color photo](http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sci/tech/newsid_965000/965711.stm), the first color picture returned by the craft. Sure, just a photo of Jupiter alone is nice. But the addition of Europa and its shadow on the Jovian surface is what makes this picture especially nice.