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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Seasons of Saturn
NASA ^ | July 21, 2013 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 07/21/2013 4:53:20 PM PDT by SunkenCiv

Explanation: Since Saturn's axis is tilted as it orbits the Sun, Saturn has seasons, like those of planet Earth ... but Saturn's seasons last for over seven years. So what season is it on Saturn now? Orbiting the equator, the tilt of the rings of Saturn provides quite a graphic seasonal display. Each year until 2016, Saturn's rings will be increasingly apparent after appearing nearly edge-on in 2009. The ringed planet is also well placed in evening skies providing a grand view as summer comes to Saturn's northern hemisphere and winter to the south. The Hubble Space Telescope took the above sequence of images about a year apart, starting on the left in 1996 and ending on the right in 2000. Although they look solid, Saturn's Rings are likely less than 50 meters thick and consist of individually orbiting bits of ice and rock ranging in size from grains of sand to barn-sized boulders.

July 21, 2013

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; saturn; science
[Credit: R. G. French (Wellesley College) et al., NASA, ESA, and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)]

1 posted on 07/21/2013 4:53:20 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...
The Big One

2 posted on 07/21/2013 4:53:57 PM PDT by SunkenCiv (McCain or Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv

What the Earth and Moon Look Like From Saturn

Read more: http://www.universetoday.com/103611/what-the-earth-and-moon-look-like-from-saturn/#ixzz2ZjBgKLzu


3 posted on 07/21/2013 5:00:57 PM PDT by BenLurkin (This is not a statement of fact. It is either opinion or satire; or both.)
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To: SunkenCiv

we had joy we had fun


4 posted on 07/21/2013 5:08:49 PM PDT by bigheadfred (INFIDEL)
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