Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Saturn Storm Panoramas

NASA ^ | July 08, 2011 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: These tantalizing panoramas follow a remarkable giant storm encircling the northern hemisphere of ringed planet Saturn. Still active, the roiling storm clouds were captured in near-infrared images recorded by the Cassini spacecraft on February 26 and stitched into the high resolution, false-color mosaics. Seen late last year as a prominent bright spot by amateur astronomers as Saturn rose in predawn skies, the powerful storm has grown to enormous proportions. Its north-south extent is nearly 15,000 kilometers as it now stretches completely around the gas giant's northern hemisphere some 300,000 kilometers, Taken about one Saturn day (11 hours) apart, the panoramas show the head of the storm at the left and cover about 150 degrees in longitude. Also a source of radio noise from lightning, the intense storm may be related to seasonal changes as Saturn experiences northern hemisphere spring.

[SunkenCiv]

[Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA]

[SunkenCiv]

Don't know why there's these clouds up in the sky...

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[FDNYRHEROES]

Blame it on global warming.

[Roccus]

[RobRoy]

I wouldn’t want to be a cyclist on Saturn. I hate wind.

[Beowulf9]

Oh I am in love with Saturn and it’s wonderful North Pole.

[jongaltsr]

Oh my god. Global Warming has even started affecting Saturn.

Those damn Saturnites had better give up their petroleum based vehicles and power plants.

[JoeProBono]

[I still care]

I would love those pictures in my living room. They work as an abstract composition beautifully.

[Bullish]

It’s Bush’s fault.

[tlb]

>>> They work as an abstract composition beautifully.

Many agree with you. Paint swirl art is widely available.

An example.

http://rosie-barrett.deviantart.com/art/Paint-Swirls-no-2-146018362

[bigheadfred]

ohhh...those chili dogs.

[TheOldLady]

Van Gogh is alive and painting the storms of Saturn.

[colorado tanker]

It’s beautiful - so long as I’m not in it.

[SunkenCiv]

Frankly, yes.

[SunkenCiv]

Good comparison! Lend an ear to TOL, all. ;’)

[SunkenCiv]

One would probably need a new set of windshield wipers, at the very least, after one of these.

[SunkenCiv]

Maybe a space station in orbit around Saturn would have some tourism appeal.

[SunkenCiv]

Kinda reminds me of the sixties.

[SunkenCiv]

Saturnites are alright for fighting, better use their preferred term, Saturnians. They’re touchy. And they’re deaf, imagine having to be in a storm like that all the time.