Crescent Saturn
Explanation:
Saturn never shows a crescent phase -- from Earth.
But when viewed from beyond, the
majestic
giant planet can show an unfamiliar diminutive sliver.
This image of crescent Saturn in natural color was taken by the robotic
Cassini spacecraft in 2007.
The featured image captures
Saturn's
majestic rings from the side of the ring plane opposite
the Sun -- the
unilluminated side -- another
vista not visible from Earth.
Pictured are many of
Saturn's photogenic wonders, including
the
subtle colors of
cloud bands, the complex
shadows of the rings on the planet, and
the
shadow of the planet
on the rings.
A careful eye will find the moons
Mimas (2 o'clock) and
Janus (4 o'clock),
but the real challenge is to find
Pandora (8 o'clock).
Saturn is now nearly
opposite from the Sun in the Earth's sky and so
can be seen
in the evening starting just after sunset for the rest of the night.
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.
