Posted on 10/20/2013 9:27:09 PM PDT by SunkenCiv
Explanation: This image of Saturn could not have been taken from Earth. No Earth based picture could possibly view the night side of Saturn and the corresponding shadow cast across Saturn's rings. Since Earth is much closer to the Sun than Saturn, only the day side of the ringed planet is visible from the Earth. In fact, this image mosaic was taken earlier this month by the robotic Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn. The beautiful rings of Saturn are seen in full expanse, while cloud details are visible including the polar hexagon surrounding the north pole, and an extended light-colored storm system.
(Excerpt) Read more at 129.164.179.22 ...
[Credit & License: NASA/JPL/SSI; Composition: Gordan Ugarkovic]
cool
Beautiful.
That is magnificent.
Love the hexagon at the pole.
Great shot.
It’s where the Allen wrench goes to wind up the system...
And to think I was worried when I read that Saturn was going out of business. :’) Thanks all, and have a great week. G’night.
The old Cosmic Allen Wrench strikes again!
Wow!
lol
re: what Jack Hydrazine mentioned above —
Astronomy Picture of the Day — Saturn’s Hexagon and Rings
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/2990515/posts
Saturn’s Monstrous South Polar Storm - 5000 Miles across
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-chat/1925218/posts
sidebars:
Astronomy Picture of the Day — A Raging Storm System on Saturn
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3013352/posts
The Rose: Spinning Vortex of Saturn Polar Storm
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/3015184/posts
Strange Objects seen Blazing Trails in Saturns [F-]Ring
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/news/2876841/posts
Kinks in Saturn’s Rings
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/chat/1925172/posts
I agree, and the hexagon is visible on The Big One:
http://129.164.179.22/apod/image/1310/saturnmosaic_cassini_4000.jpg
Dang, mystery solved.
I was always suspicious of those scientific explanations and computer simulations.
Now we need to figure out if it's metric or standard :)
Allen wrench? Metric. The true spelling is Såtøörn, made by IKEA.
BTTT.
It wasn’t too long ago that some “reporter” was claiming that the appearance of a hexagon on Jupiter was not a natural occurrend because this shape was not a naturally occurring shape.
Seven soap bubbles would show the idiot that it is “naturally occurring”.
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.