The Cassini probe snapped this image of Saturn in 2007 from an orbit of round 700,000 miles (1.1 million kilometres) from the planet. Saturn’s seasons are mirrored within the size of the shadow. The ring-cast shadows shifted southward because the Earth approached its equinox in 2009.
The following equinox on Saturn is predicted to happen on Might 6, 2025, which is round 15 Earth years from now.
The picture additionally present the rings of Saturn. Saturn and its rings, a tawny color, stand out towards the blackness of house. The rings of the planet kind the form of the letter “c” when nearly all of the rings are lighted and a single half is cloaked in darkness.
Wispy good clouds dance within the bluish-gray sky of Saturn’s far north. Mimas, Janus, and Pandora are the three moons of Saturn which may be seen right here. They’re situated on the 2, 4, and eight o’clock positions, respectively.
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Saturn’s rings are largely lit by daylight reflecting off the planet’s floor because the planet nears its equinox, the purpose in its orbit when the Solar shines instantly above on the equator. Consequently, the ring section lighted by planetshine is way brighter than the ring section illuminated by daylight.