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Astronomy Picture of the Day - Saturn in Infrared from Cassini
APOD.NASA.gov ^ | 24 Jul, 2022 | Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, SSI; Processing: Maksim Kakitsev

Posted on 07/24/2022 4:10:49 PM PDT by MtnClimber

Explanation: Many details of Saturn appear clearly in infrared light. Bands of clouds show great structure, including long stretching storms. Also quite striking in infrared is the unusual hexagonal cloud pattern surrounding Saturn's North Pole. Each side of the dark hexagon spans roughly the width of our Earth. The hexagon's existence was not predicted, and its origin and likely stability remains a topic of research. Saturn's famous rings circle the planet and cast shadows below the equator. The featured image was taken by the robotic Cassini spacecraft in 2014 in several infrared colors. In 2017 September, the Cassini mission was brought to a dramatic conclusion when the spacecraft was directed to dive into ringed giant.


TOPICS: Astronomy; Astronomy Picture of the Day; Science
KEYWORDS: nasa
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To: DannyTN

It looks cool. Too bad Nancy Pelosi will be trying to ban it.


21 posted on 07/24/2022 5:55:18 PM PDT by MtnClimber (For photos of Colorado scenery and wildlife, click on my screen name for my FR home page.)
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To: MtnClimber

How long can an ordered atmospheric gaseous structure last? Interesting conundrum.


22 posted on 07/24/2022 6:02:24 PM PDT by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and diamonds, and harder to find.)
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To: Getready

https://youtu.be/oaRTAjkqmdE


23 posted on 07/24/2022 6:11:26 PM PDT by Delta 21 (It started as a virus, and mutated into an IQ test.)
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To: dragnet2
If you unscrew it the planet deflates.

Or, if you push down on it at just the right speed to just the right depth, it might open up an inter-dimensional doorway that would let the Cenobites through . . .

24 posted on 07/24/2022 6:14:41 PM PDT by AFB-XYZ (Stand up, or bend over)
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To: MtnClimber

Interesting that the area of that hexagon is about a fifth of the earth’s surface if flattened.


25 posted on 07/24/2022 6:20:06 PM PDT by going hot (Happiness is a Momma Deuce)
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To: going hot

miscalc, actually closer to 75 per cent.


26 posted on 07/24/2022 6:22:42 PM PDT by going hot (Happiness is a Momma Deuce)
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To: MtnClimber

What is the big dark shape on the left like a planet hovering next to Saturn and cutting off the rings?


27 posted on 07/24/2022 7:12:41 PM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: Beowulf9

Only the shadow knows, lol.


28 posted on 07/24/2022 7:37:30 PM PDT by Zuriel (Acts 2:38,39....Do you believe it?)
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To: Zuriel

🤣


29 posted on 07/24/2022 7:54:55 PM PDT by Beowulf9
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To: Delta 21

Thanks. I kinda felt bad for the narrator cause he said that nothing big is planned for Saturn missions for a few decades but he will post an explanation when new info comes in...who knows how long that will be. But it was an informative discussion. I am glad he did correctly say that we still really don’t know.


30 posted on 07/24/2022 8:22:38 PM PDT by Getready (Wisdom is more valuable than gold and diamonds, and harder to find.)
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To: MtnClimber
Notice the stem on this squash at the top. It has 5 sides. And it sticks out from the squash.

I think we can safely conclude that Saturn is not a squash. But it might be a vine fruit of some kind. Where is the vine now?


31 posted on 07/24/2022 9:05:52 PM PDT by DannyTN
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To: dragnet2

That hexagonal polar region always floors me. Some years ago I could just get a glimpse of it in my refractor, but thanks to Cassini, new it was there.
I probably would’ve missed it otherwise.


32 posted on 07/24/2022 9:35:25 PM PDT by telescope115 (Proud member of the ANTIFAuci movement. )
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To: MtnClimber

I don’t think it has been figured out yet, has it?


33 posted on 07/24/2022 9:36:21 PM PDT by telescope115 (Proud member of the ANTIFAuci movement. )
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To: MtnClimber

Maybe the hex is the mark that an improper stand left. Maybe it was Amazon women that used to own it.

No, the Amazon Women are on the Moon…

https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0092546/


34 posted on 07/24/2022 9:41:00 PM PDT by telescope115 (Proud member of the ANTIFAuci movement. )
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To: dragnet2

35 posted on 07/25/2022 5:20:14 AM PDT by Red Badger (Homeless veterans camp in the streets while illegal aliens are put up in hotels.....................)
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