Astronomy Picture of the Day . A Shadow on the Rings of Saturn . ... Credit: Cassini Imaging Team , SSI , JPL , ESA , NASA Explanation: This picture of Saturn could not have been taken from Earth. No Earth based picture could possibly view the night side of Saturn and the corresponding shadow cast across Saturn's rings. Since Earth is much closer to the Sun than Saturn, only the day side of the planet is visible from the Earth. ... Publications with keywords: rings - Saturn . ...