Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]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.

                              2022 December 23
    [2]The featured image shows a black and white image with Saturn's orb
     dominating the image bottom and Saturn's rings dominating the image
       top. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                        Cassini Looks Out from Saturn
      Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]JPL-Caltech, [5]Space Science Institute

   Explanation: This is what Saturn looks like from inside the rings. In
   2017, for the [6]first time, NASA directed the [7]Cassini spacecraft to
   swoop between Saturn and its rings. During [8]the dive, the robotic
   spacecraft took hundreds of images showing [9]unprecedented detail for
   structures in Saturn's atmosphere. Looking back out, however, the
   spacecraft was also able to capture impressive vistas. In the featured
   image, taken a few hours before closest approach, [10]Saturn's unusual
   northern [11]hexagon is seen surrounding the North Pole. Saturn's B
   ring is the closest visible, while the dark [12]Cassini Division
   separates B from the outer A. A [13]close inspection will find the
   [14]two small [15]moons that [16]shepherd the [17]F-ring, the farthest
   ring discernable. A few months after this image was taken -- and after
   more than a decade of exploration and discovery -- the [18]Cassini
   spacecraft ran [19]low on fuel and was directed to [20]enter Saturn's
   atmosphere, where it surely [21]melted.

                    Tomorrow's picture: the night before
     __________________________________________________________________

      [22]< | [23]Archive | [24]Submissions | [25]Index | [26]Search |
   [27]Calendar | [28]RSS | [29]Education | [30]About APOD | [31]Discuss |
                                    [32]>
     __________________________________________________________________

    Authors & editors: [33]Robert Nemiroff ([34]MTU) & [35]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([36]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [37]Specific rights apply.
              [38]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [39]ASD at [40]NASA / [41]GSFC,
                         [42]NASA Science Activation
                           & [43]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2212/SaturnInsideOut2_cassini_960.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
   5. https://www.spacescience.org/index.php
   6. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQmTdYPVJxM
   7. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/cassini/the-journey/the-spacecraft/
   8. https://www.planetary.org/articles/0428-trusty-cassini-survives-first
   9. https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/nasa-spacecraft-dives-between-saturn-and-its-rings
  10. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/saturn/in-depth/
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130220.html
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap161124.html
  13. https://ivereadthis.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/cat-with-book-1.jpg
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap160108.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170103.html
  16. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ea/PIA07712_-_F_ring_animation.ogv
  17. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Saturn#F_Ring
  18. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/cassini/mission/spacecraft/cassini-orbiter/
  19. https://www.lifewithdogs.tv/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/dog-tired.jpg
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170125.html
  21. https://youtu.be/4u6A40QTWVI
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap221222.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  26. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  31. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=221223
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap221224.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  34. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  35. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  36. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  39. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  42. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  43. http://www.mtu.edu/