Saturn: Lord of the Rings
Rings of Saturn
The Cassini spacecraft took this infrared image of Saturn's outstretched ring system from a vantage point high above the planet's northern latitudes. Nearly the full expanse of the main rings is visible here -- from the C ring to the outer edge of the A ring (in the upper left corner). NASA released the image May 17, 2007. -- Learn More
Bizarre Hexagon on Saturn
A bizarre six-sided feature encircling Saturn's north pole has been spied by visual and infrared instruments on the Cassini spacecraft. This image, released March 27, is one of the first clear pictures ever taken of the north pole as seen from a unique polar perspective. The hexagon was first discovered by Voyager in the early 1980's; the new views prove it is a long-lived feature. Scientists think it is a planetary wave that extends deep into the atmosphere. -- Learn More
Seas on Titan
Released March 13, these side-by-side pictures show a Cassini radar image (left) of what is the largest body of liquid ever found on Titan's north pole, compared to Lake Superior (right). This close-up offers strong evidence for seas on Titan. These seas are most likely liquid methane and ethane. This feature on Titan is at least 39,000 square miles, which is greater in extent than Lake Superior (32,000 square miles), which is one of Earth's largest lakes. Learn More
Blinding Saturn
Surely one of the most gorgeous sights the solar system has to offer, Saturn sits enveloped by the full splendor of its stately rings. Taking in the rings in their entirety was the focus of this particular imaging sequence. Therefore, the camera exposure times were just right to capture the dark-side of its rings, but longer than that required to properly expose the globe of sunlit Saturn. Consequently, the sunlit half of the planet is overexposed.
Dunes, As Seen By Radar
This radar image, obtained by Cassini during a near-polar flyby on Feb. 22, 2007, shows dunes surrounding a bright feature on Saturn's moon Titan. Dunes have been previously seen on Titan, so far concentrated near the equator. They are thought to be composed of small hydrocarbon or water ice particles-- probably about 250 microns in diameter, similar to sand grains on Earth. These are formed into dunes by the prevailing west-to-east surface winds.
Saturn in Blue and Gold
Dark and sharply defined ring shadows appear to constrict the flow of color from Saturn's warmly hued south to the bluish northern latitudes. Scientists studying Saturn are not yet sure about the precise cause of the color change from north to south. NASA Voyager spacecraft flybys witnessed a more evenly painted planet in the early 1980s, when Saturn was closer to equinox.
Titan's Giant North Pole Cloud
These images, released Feb. 1, show a huge cloud covering the north pole of Titan, one of Saturn's moons. The cloud is half the size of the United States and extends down to a latitude of 62 degrees north on Titan. Cassini imaged the cloud from a distance of 54,000 miles. Such a cloud cover was predicted by atmospheric models, but it had never been observed in such detail. The condensates may be the source of liquids that fill the lakes recently found by Cassini. Story
Evidence of Liquid Lakes on Titan
Radar imaging data from Cassini, published Jan. 4, 2007 in the journal Nature, provide convincing evidence for the first lakes every found outside of Earth: large bodies of liquid methane on Titan, one of Saturn's moons. Intensity in this false-color image is proportional to how much radar brightness was returned. The methane lakes, darker than the terrain, are shown here by tinting regions of low backscatter in blue. Radar-brighter regions are shown in tan. Full Story
Hurricane at the South Pole
A black and white photo made by the Cassini spacecraft and released Nov. 9, 2006, by NASA shows a swirling hurricane-like vortex at Saturn's south pole, where the vertical structure of the clouds is highlighted by shadows. Such a storm, with a well-developed eye ringed by towering clouds, is a phenomenon never before seen on another planet.
Saturn Eclipse
This image, taken with the sun poised behind Saturn, was created by combining a total of 165 images taken by the Cassini wide-angle camera over nearly three hours on Sept. 15, 2006 and released Oct. 11, 2006. Saturn hangs in the blackness of space with a view of the rings as never seen before, revealing previously unknown faint rings. Scientists discovered two new rings in this image and confirmed the presence of two others.
Saturn Rings in Purple
The most detailed look ever at Saturn's rings was obtained by the Cassini spacecraft and released by NASA on May 24, 2005. The colors represent information about ring particle sizes measured by radio signals. Purple indicates areas have no particles smaller than about 2 inches (5 cm). Green and blue indicate areas that do have particles smaller than 2 inches. The broad, white band is a dense region that blocked most radio signals, preventing particle measurement.
Saturn in Color
Cassini's narrow angle camera took this natural color image of the full planet on March 27, 2004. Color variations between atmospheric bands and features in the southern hemisphere of Saturn, as well as subtle color differences across the planet's middle ring, are distinct. Cassini scientists can study these pictures to find out the nature and causes of any compositional differences.
Saturn's Moon Hyperion
A "false-color" view of Saturn's moon Hyperion, taken by Cassini's close flyby on Sept. 26, 2005, reveals crisp details across the moon's surface. Differences in color could represent differences in the composition of surface materials. Hyperion has a notably reddish tint when viewed in natural color.
Mimas
Mimas, another of Saturn's moons, drifts along in its orbit against the azure backdrop of Saturn's northern latitudes in this true color view. The long, dark lines on the atmosphere are shadows cast by the planet's rings. The bluish appearance is a result of sunlight being scattered at shorter (bluer) wavelengths.
The Saturn System
This is an artist's concept of Saturn's rings and major icy moons. Saturn has seven main rings that are labeled in the order in which they were discovered. From the planet outward, they are D, C, B, A, F, G and E. From edge-to-edge, the ring system would not even fit in the distance between Earth and the Moon. The outermost main ring, easily seen with Earth-based telescopes, is the A ring. Ten of Saturn's 47 moons are labeled here.
Saturn Aligned
The Cassini spacecraft captured this enduring portrait of a near-alignment of four of Saturn's restless moons. All of the moons seen here were on the far side of the rings from the spacecraft when this image was taken, and about an hour later, all four had disappeared behind Saturn. The moons Titan and Dione are at bottom; Prometheus hugs the rings at center and Telesto is a mere speck in the darkness above center.
Saturn's Moon Titan
This image, taken Oct. 26, 2004, shows Titan in ultraviolet and infrared wavelengths. The red and green colors represent infrared wavelengths and show areas where atmospheric methane absorbs light. Blue represents ultraviolet wavelengths and shows the high atmosphere and detached hazes. The sharp variations in brightness on Titan's surface (and clouds near the south pole) are apparent at infrared wavelengths.
Saturn
Dreamy colors ranging from pale rose to butterscotch to sapphire give this utterly inhospitable gas planet a romantic appeal. Shadows of the rings caress the northern latitudes whose blue color is presumed to be a seasonal effect.
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