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.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA]
This is a wonderful picture.
Thanks for posting!
Wow, no wonder there's a song about the dark side.
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Wow, no wonder there's a song about the dark side.
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Very cool shot. At least robotics can bring us images until humans can get there (notwithstanding the radiation shielding that would be required).
Ahhhhh. The Good Ol’ Days of Black and White.
Thanks, Civ, for that STUNNING Photo!
Happy New Year!
Also the picture from Dec. 22, 2012 of Saturn at Night is very interesting. http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap121222.html
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???
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).
The “ringshine” in that picture is cool.
..................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.)
Thanks, and you’re welcome. :’)
They are, it’s just the viewing angle that throws you off.
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. ;-)
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.)
We really should consider building a Tethys scope.
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/rimshot!
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.
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