Posted on 04/05/2015 2:49:41 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: Seen from ice moon Tethys, rings and shadows would display fantastic views of the Saturnian system. Haven't dropped in on Tethys lately? Then this gorgeous ringscape from the Cassini spacecraft will have to do for now. Caught in sunlight just below and left of picture center in 2005, Tethys itself is about 1,000 kilometers in diameter and orbits not quite five saturn-radii from the center of the gas giant planet. At that distance (around 300,000 kilometers) it is well outside Saturn's main bright rings, but Tethys is still one of five major moons that find themselves within the boundaries of the faint and tenuous outer E ring. Discovered in the 1980s, two very small moons Telesto and Calypso are locked in stable locations along Tethys' orbit. Telesto precedes and Calypso follows Tethys as the trio circles Saturn.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA]
Neither is "the big one" today, it's just how each was clipped out.
|
That is beautiful!
Amazing.
You can say what you want, but IMO some of the many pictures of Saturn by Cassini are among the most stunning images ever taken.
Even in black and white, that system is a knockout.
Well, at least we know it’s not in “False Color”! :-)
You’re right, it’s in false black and white. :’)
hahahaha
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.