Posted on 12/23/2022 2:48:09 PM PST by MtnClimber
Explanation: This is what Saturn looks like from inside the rings. In 2017, for the first time, NASA directed the Cassini spacecraft to swoop between Saturn and its rings. During the dive, the robotic spacecraft took hundreds of images showing unprecedented detail for structures in Saturn's atmosphere. Looking back out, however, the spacecraft was also able to capture impressive vistas. In the featured image, taken a few hours before closest approach, Saturn's unusual northern hexagon is seen surrounding the North Pole. Saturn's B ring is the closest visible, while the dark Cassini Division separates B from the outer A. A close inspection will find the two small moons that shepherd the F-ring, the farthest ring discernable. A few months after this image was taken -- and after more than a decade of exploration and discovery -- the Cassini spacecraft ran low on fuel and was directed to enter Saturn's atmosphere, where it surely melted.
For more detail go to the link and click on the image for a high definition image. You can then move the magnifying glass cursor then click to zoom in and click again to zoom out. When zoomed in you can scan by moving the side bars on the bottom and right side of the image.
Breathtaking!
Closeup pics of Saturnās rings have always fascinated me, the closer the better.
The things we canāt see with a telescope, like shepherd moons, raised features on the ringsāsurfaces, propellers. The only things I havenāt seen are actual individual ring particles. I donāt think Cassini took any pictures close enough to see those.
You can see a little over half of the Hexogonal socket on Saturn for using an allen wrench to stabilize it.
A b/w photo!. Take the picture color!
I forgot and left my color film at home!
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