On Monday, Cassini celebrates 10th years since launch. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/news/press-release-details.cfm?newsID=783<p&g… Cassini rode into space October 15, 1997 atop a Titan 4B. Its mission: to orbit and study the Saturnian system for four years. Just this week we can read more exciting headline-grabbing results - this time about Titan's land of lakes and Iapetus' mysterious dark side. http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/home/index.cfm<p> What better than a moon with a mysterious dark side for the October (aka Halloween) edition of "What's Up"?<p> This month both Titan and mysterious Iapetus can be seen near Saturn, when looking through most any telescope. Rhea, Dione and Tethys are always easily visible, and they are not shown on the maps, but essily found in astronomy magazines, planetarium programs or you can ask and we'll help you out. <p> Iapetus has an 89 day orbit, which takes it far from Saturn and the other moons usually easily visible though a telescope. But when the small moon is north or south of the planet it is easy to spot.<p> That's when I try to encourage folks to have a look at this small (892 miles diameter) moon, which was discovered by Giovanni Cassini in 1671. Don't despair if you don't see it this week. The next good time to Iapetus to the South of Saturn is December 31. And to the north of Saturn November 23. And you'll also spot Iapetus easily for the week or so on both sides of these dates. Next year, when Saturn rises earlier in the evening, it won't be such a trick to see it. Here is where you'll find October What's Up, Cassini's Iapetus page, some Educational activities related to the Saturn system, plus star charts for viewing Jupiter, Mars, Venus and of course, Saturn, lord of the rings! http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html <p> Next observing: Pasadena October 19, Monrovia Oct 20,m weather permitting. No Iapetus or Saturn, Jupiter may be too low to see until next year. Mars will begin peeking above the Eastern rooftops towards the end of our sidewalk nights. It'll be a moon night this month. Jane -- Jane Houston Jones Senior Outreach Specialist, Cassini Program JPL - 4800 Oak Grove Drive, MS 230-205 Pasadena, CA 91109 818-393-6435 jane.h.jones(a)jpl.nasa.gov Cassini SOC http://soc.jpl.nasa.gov/index.cfm What's Up? http://education.jpl.nasa.gov/amateurastronomy/index.html