Saturns Rings from the Other Side
Explanation:
What do Saturn's rings look like from the other side?
From Earth, we usually see
Saturn's rings from the same side
of the ring plane that the Sun illuminates them.
Geometrically, in the
above picture taken in April by the
robot Cassini spacecraft now orbiting
Saturn,
the Sun is behind the camera but on the
other side of the ring plane.
This vantage point, specifically 17 degrees above the ring plane, gives a
breathtaking views of the most
splendid ring system in the Solar System.
Strangely, the rings have similarities to a
photographic negative of a front view.
The ring brightness as recorded from different angles
indicates ring thickness and particle density of ring particles.
Elsewhere,
ring shadows
can be seen on the sunlit face of Saturn, shown sporting numerous
cloud structures in nearly true color.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
