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Astronomy Picture of the Day -- Saturn's Rings from the Dark Side
NASA ^ | December 31, 2012 | (see photo credit)

Posted on 12/31/2012 6:36:46 AM PST by SunkenCiv

Explanation: What do Saturn's rings look like from the dark side? From Earth, we usually see Saturn's rings from the same side of the ring plane that the Sun illuminates them -- one might call this the bright side. Geometrically, in the above picture taken in August by the robot Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn, the Sun is behind the camera but on the other side of the ring plane. Such a vantage point 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. For example, the dark band in the middle is actually the normally bright B-ring. The ring brightness as recorded from different angles indicates ring thickness and particle density of ring particles. At the top left of the frame is Saturn's moon Tethys, which although harder to find, contains much more mass than the entire ring system.

December 31, 2012

(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: apod; astronomy; cassini; eddieandthecruisers; ringsystem; saturnsrings; science; tethys
[Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA]

1 posted on 12/31/2012 6:36:57 AM PST by SunkenCiv
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On The Dark Side - Eddie And the Cruisers 80's -- John Cafferty & The Beaver Brown Band

2 posted on 12/31/2012 6:40:52 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv

This is a wonderful picture.

Thanks for posting!


3 posted on 12/31/2012 6:41:15 AM PST by txnativegop (Fed up with zealots)
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...
Wow, no wonder there's a song about the dark side.

4 posted on 12/31/2012 6:42:11 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: brytlea; cripplecreek; decimon; bigheadfred; KoRn; Grammy; married21; steelyourfaith; Mmogamer; ...
Wow, no wonder there's a song about the dark side.

5 posted on 12/31/2012 6:43:01 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Very cool shot. At least robotics can bring us images until humans can get there (notwithstanding the radiation shielding that would be required).


6 posted on 12/31/2012 6:45:40 AM PST by COBOL2Java (kak-is-toc-ra-cy: Government by the least qualified or most unprincipled citizens. See: GOP-e)
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To: SunkenCiv

Ahhhhh. The Good Ol’ Days of Black and White.

Thanks, Civ, for that STUNNING Photo!
Happy New Year!


7 posted on 12/31/2012 6:54:08 AM PST by left that other site (Worry is the Darkroom that Develops Negatives.)
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To: SunkenCiv

Also the picture from Dec. 22, 2012 of Saturn at Night is very interesting. http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap121222.html


8 posted on 12/31/2012 7:07:24 AM PST by knife6375 (US Navy Veteran)
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To: knife6375

In that link, and in the original post, the rings don’t appear to be formed at the equator of the planet.

I wonder why???


9 posted on 12/31/2012 7:57:10 AM PST by Noob1999 (Loose Lips, Sink Ships)
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To: Noob1999

It must be an illusion caused by the position of the shadow, which of course need not be at the equator (for any planet not in the ecliptic and/or having a rotational axis not perpendicular to the ecliptic).


10 posted on 12/31/2012 8:57:18 AM PST by Erasmus (Zwischen des Teufels und des tiefen, blauen Meers)
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To: knife6375

The “ringshine” in that picture is cool.


11 posted on 12/31/2012 9:32:12 AM PST by Atlas Sneezed (Hold My Beer and Watch This!)
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To: Erasmus

..................need not be at the equator (for any planet not in the ecliptic and/or having a rotational axis not perpendicular to the ecliptic).

Agreed, but I would think that the rings would rotate around the center of mass.

(But, of course earth’s magnetic forces do not exactly align with our poles.)


12 posted on 12/31/2012 9:46:48 AM PST by Noob1999 (Loose Lips, Sink Ships)
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To: txnativegop; COBOL2Java; knife6375; left that other site

Thanks, and you’re welcome. :’)


13 posted on 12/31/2012 10:11:04 AM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: Noob1999

They are, it’s just the viewing angle that throws you off.


14 posted on 12/31/2012 10:28:32 AM PST by Squawk 8888 (True North- Strong Leader, Strong Dollar, Strong and Free!)
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To: SunkenCiv

It never ceases to amaze me that there is more mass in Tethys than in all the rings of Saturn.

Great APOD, Mr. Civilizations, as usual. ;-)


15 posted on 12/31/2012 11:15:04 AM PST by TheOldLady
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To: Noob1999

What I was trying to say is that the rings themselves do rotate around the center of mass, but the photo, probably due to the position of the shadow, makes it appear otherwise.

My comment was only with regard to how the shadow can fall at places other than the great circle under the rings. (In accord with theories of planetary formation, that great circle seems to be the equator.)


16 posted on 12/31/2012 11:31:15 AM PST by Erasmus (Zwischen des Teufels und des tiefen, blauen Meers)
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To: TheOldLady

We really should consider building a Tethys scope.
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/rimshot!


17 posted on 12/31/2012 12:09:08 PM PST by SunkenCiv (Romney would have been worse, if you're a dumb ass.)
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To: SunkenCiv

That would be an excellent way to get the heartbeat of Saturn and ring in the New Year!

BTW, Happy New Year, good lookin’! Prosperity and good times to you, my friend.


18 posted on 12/31/2012 1:18:54 PM PST by TheOldLady
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