Astronomy Picture of the Day

    Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2019 September 20

                               Saturn at Night
     Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, Space Science Institute, Mindaugas
                                 Macijauskas

   Explanation: Still bright in planet Earth's night skies, good
   telescopic views of Saturn and its beautiful rings often make it a star
   at star parties. But this stunning view of Saturn's rings and night
   side just isn't possible from telescopes closer to the Sun than the
   outer planet. They can only bring Saturn's day into view. In fact, this
   image of Saturn's slender sunlit crescent with night's shadow cast
   across its broad and complex ring system was captured by the Cassini
   spacecraft. A robot spacecraft from planet Earth, Cassini called Saturn
   orbit home for 13 years before it was directed to dive into the
   atmosphere of the gas giant on September 15, 2017. This magnificent
   mosaic is composed of frames recorded by Cassini's wide-angle camera
   only two days before its grand final plunge. Saturn's night will not be
   seen again until another spaceship from Earth calls.

                    Tomorrow's picture: flowers in space
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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                      A service of: ASD at NASA / GSFC
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

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