Categories: Saturn

Saturn’s Glowing Rings

This beautiful photograph taken by Cassini shows the rings of Saturn, lit by the Sun from below. The sunlight bounces off the rings’ opposite side and illuminates Saturn’s night side. It’s amazing to think that a photograph like this could only be taken from Cassini’s current perspective, 33 degrees above the ringplane; here on Earth, we’re stuck with the tilt of the rings that Saturn presents to us.

The image was taken on March 30, 2007 when Cassini was 1.9 million kilometers (1.2 million miles) from Saturn.

Original Source: NASA/JPL/SSI News Release

Fraser Cain

Fraser Cain is the publisher of Universe Today. He's also the co-host of Astronomy Cast with Dr. Pamela Gay.

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