Images captions often contain information on size and distance. Why are spatial orientations not included?
Examining two-dimensional images of three-dimensional space is one of the scientists’ toughest tasks. Without looking at detailed information, determining where objects are (relative to Cassini) is sometimes difficult for them as well. In writing captions, scientists try to provide a consistent amount of spatial and geometric information. For example, in captions of images showing a single moon, the north orientation is noted, as well as which hemisphere is shown. Imaging team members try to present Saturn and its moons “north-up” (or close to it) and note when that’s not the case. Usually, when Saturn or the ring plane is shown, north orientation is not noted since the planet’s “equatorial” rings make that obvious. Captions also indicate images that are taken from just above or below the ring plane, and often discuss the ways that “above” and “below” images can differ in appearance. A way to visualize the geometry of Cassini images is to view the same scene using a space simulation vi
