Astronomy

Posted on Aug 8, 2020

APOD: 2020 August 8 - Crescent Saturn

Maj William W. 'Bill' Price

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Good morning, Rallypoint. Today's Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) is titled "Crescent Saturn." We never see a Crescent Saturn from Earth, for we are never on the side of Saturn opposite the Sun. But in this gem from the Cassini archives (2007), we see exactly that: a slice of illuminated planet, the shadow of the rings on the planet, and the shadow of the planet on the rings. Three moons are visible in this photo: Mimas (2 o'clock), Janus (4 o'clock), and Pandora (8 o'clock). You'll probably be able to pick out Mimas without zooming in on the image, but not so with the other two. That will require a visit to the image source on the APOD page. But it's worth the trip.

APOD: 2020 August 8 - Crescent Saturn

Posted from apod.nasa.gov

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LTC Stephen F.

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Sleeping At Last - "Saturn" (Official Music Video)

Directed by Tom Shea (http://tomfoxshea.com) Director of Photography Michael Means (http://meanstoalens.com) Edited by Tom Shea & Michael Means "Saturn" is f...

Thank you my friend Maj William W. 'Bill' Price for posting NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day (APOD) for Saturday, August 8, 2020 entitled "Crescent Saturn."
Image: Crescent Saturn - Image Credit - NASA, ESA, SSI, Cassini Imaging Team

This an amazing photo from robotic Cassini spacecraft. From the distance the plant of Saturn looks smooth perfectly proportioned as God designed that large planet.

APOD background
"Explanation: From Earth, Saturn never shows a crescent phase. But when viewed from a spacecraft the majestic giant planet can show just a sunlit slice. This image of crescent Saturn in natural color was taken by the robotic Cassini spacecraft in 2007. It captures Saturn's rings from the side of the ring plane opposite the Sun -- the unilluminated side -- another vista not visible from Earth. Visible are subtle colors of cloud bands, the complex shadows of the rings on the planet, and the shadow of the planet on the rings. The moons Mimas, at 2 o'clock, and Janus 4 o'clock, can be seen as specks of light, but the real challenge is to find Pandora (8 o'clock). From Earth, Saturn's disk is nearly full now and opposite the Sun. Along with bright fellow giant planet Jupiter it rises in the early evening."

Sleeping At Last - "Saturn" (Official Music Video)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dzNvk80XY9s

FYI Maj Robert Thornton Lt Col Charlie Brown COL Mikel J. Burroughs Sgt (Join to see) PO1 William "Chip" Nagel SP5 Mark Kuzinski Maj Bill Smith, Ph.D. Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen SGT Denny Espinosa SSG Michael Noll Cpl (Join to see) Sgt Vance Bonds MAJ Dale E. Wilson, Ph.D. Sgt Jim Belanus MSG Felipe De Leon Brown SPC Chris Bayner-Cwik TSgt David L. SSG Stephen Rogerson SPC Margaret Higgins

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LTC Stephen F.

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