Geology Picture of the Week, December 7-13, 2003 (with an interplanetary bonus)

NASA Earth Observatory (and Cassini Mission) ^ | December 8, 2003

[cogitator]

An easy choice this time: the Rio de la Plata estuary is one of the most noticeable features on the east coast of South America: (click to see the larger version):

And I may be scooping the Astronomy Picture of the Day with this one;
Saturn views Cassini eight months from arrival (click to go to Web site with larger volume images):

[cogitator]

In the Solar System, there is a "Lord of the Rings", too.

[cogitator]

*** ping ***

*** ping ***

[billorites]

Notice the shadow of Saturn falling on the rings.

You have to be outside the orbit of Saturn to see that.

Way cool.

[Slip18]

Absolutely astounding photos, cogitator.

[byteback]

I think I can see Barbara Streisand's house.

[Prodigal Son]

Apparently, December 31st presents a very good opportunity to see Saturn. I am led to understand that a 30x telescope would be sufficient to see its rings.

[witnesstothefall]

Astounding view of Saturn, just made it the background on my laptop. Thx!

[RayTutti]

Notice the shadow of Saturn falling on the rings.

You have to be outside the orbit of Saturn to see that.

That's incorrect. The shadow can be seen from Earth when the alignment of the planets and the sun is correct. And this shot is clearly taken from within the orbit of Saturn, since more than half of the surface is illuminated.

What is interesting to me is that the angle of the rings is such that the shadow does not go past the edge of the rings, but stops in the middle. I've never seen that before.

[RayTutti]

Sorry, I should have directed the previous post to billorites.