Cassini's final dive gets tribute from Google in form of quirky doodle

An outlandish doodle was dedicated to NASA’s Cassini spacecraft as it started its final expedition diving Saturn’s rings for 22 times before going to its atmosphere to bring probable end to its 20-year-long journey.

The doodle is colourful, and animated and is created by US artist Nate Swineheart. It depicts a cute little Cassini spacecraft as an interstellar photographer, waiting with a camera.

When Saturn is seen, Cassini captures many images of the ringed-planet, and then takes a selfie.

The spacecraft will have rapid downward movement between Saturn and its rings, whiuch is part of Cassini’s final expedition or ‘Grand Finale’. The set of orbits will offer scientists a great view at the second largest planet in our solar system.

“By plunging into this fascinating frontier, Cassini will help scientists learn more about the origins, mass, and age of Saturn’s rings, as well as the mysteries of the gas giant’s interior. And of course there will be breathtaking additions to Cassini’s already stunning photo gallery,” Google said.

Cassini is a joint endeavour of NASA, the European Space Agency (ESA), and the Italian space agency (ASI).

The spacecraft began its 2.2 billion mile journey 20 years ago and has been hanging out with Saturn since 2004.

Later in 2017, Cassini will say goodbye and become part of Saturn when it crashes through the planet’s atmosphere.