Astronomy Picture of the Day
    


Crescent Rhea Occults Crescent Saturn
<< Yesterday 3.01.2015 Tomorrow >>
Crescent Rhea Occults Crescent Saturn
Credit & Copyright: Cassini Imaging Team, SSI, JPL, ESA, NASA
Explanation: Soft hues, partially lit orbs, a thin trace of the ring, and slight shadows highlight this understated view of the majestic surroundings of the giant planet Saturn. Looking nearly back toward the Sun, the robot Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn captured crescent phases of Saturn and its moon Rhea in color a few years ago. As striking as the above image is, it is but a single frame from a 60-frame silent movie where Rhea can be seen gliding in front of its parent world. Since Cassini was nearly in the plane of Saturn's rings, the normally impressive rings are visible here only as a thin line across the image center.

January
February
March
April
May
June
July
August
September
October
November
December
 < January 2015  >
Mo Tu We Th Fr Sa Su



1234
567891011
12131415161718
19202122232425
262728293031
Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.

Based on Astronomy Picture Of the Day

Publications with keywords: Saturn - Rhea
Publications with words: Saturn - Rhea
See also:
All publications on this topic >>