Astronomy Picture of the Day
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2016 September 25 
Posted on 09/26/2016 5:35:21 AM PDT by ThomasMore
Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.
2016 September 25
Explanation: This image 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 ringed planet is visible from the Earth. In fact, this image mosaic was taken earlier this year by the robotic Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn, just before filming a 44-hour video of Saturn rotating. The beautiful rings of Saturn are seen in full expanse, while cloud details are visible including the polar hexagon surrounding the north pole. The Cassini mission is now in its final year as the spacecraft is scheduled to be programmed to dive into Saturn's atmosphere next September.
(Excerpt) Read more at apod.nasa.gov ...
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Where’s the Dreadnought? Just kidding.
Worth noting how different the outer planets appear when they are not rendered in false color.
Tomorrow —
Uranus from below
The close up Saturn pix have to be among the most spectacular photos ever taken, period.
Lets hope there’s no Klingons there!
I almost scrolled right pass this thread in my usual search for morning news. But then I thought of the generations before me that would have spent their entire lives wishing to find such a thing. Thank you for posting this beautiful image, it puts the rest of the days news in perspective.
And don’t forget the side-splitting humor of such gems as Uranus and Klingons, hilarity which could only be imagined by previous generations.
Andy God help us when we actually send a probe to Uranus. I don’t think we ha e the maturity to discuss what discoveries could be made.
I agree, it would trigger a pandemic of MDD (maturity deficit disorder)!
Who is this Andy God of whom you speak?
It looks like an artist’s conception more than like a photo.
Yes... I believe it is...
You don’t know who Andy God is? Why, he’s the false god of Uranus. He really stinks at being a god as well. He should be protecting Uranus at all times, but he allows probes to wander through the dark wormhole to , who knows where!
;)
Ok, I won't worry about who he is anymore. He sounds like someone liberals would worship.
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