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.

                                2020 August 8
    [2]See Explanation. Clicking on the picture will download the highest
                        resolution version available.

                               Crescent Saturn
       Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]ESA, [5]SSI, [6]Cassini Imaging Team

   Explanation: From Earth, Saturn never shows a crescent phase. But when
   viewed from a spacecraft the [7]majestic giant planet can show just a
   sunlit slice. This [8]image of crescent Saturn in natural color was
   taken by the robotic [9]Cassini spacecraft in 2007. It captures
   [10]Saturn's rings from the side of the ring plane opposite the Sun --
   the [11]unilluminated side -- another vista not visible from Earth.
   Visible are [12]subtle colors of [13]cloud bands, the complex shadows
   of the rings on the planet, and the [14]shadow of the planet on the
   rings. The moons [15]Mimas, at 2 o'clock, and [16]Janus 4 o'clock, can
   be seen as specks of light, but the real challenge is to find
   [17]Pandora (8 o'clock). From Earth, Saturn's disk is nearly full now
   and [18]opposite the Sun. Along with bright fellow giant planet Jupiter
   it [19]rises in the early evening.

                       Tomorrow's picture: elementree
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    Authors & editors: [31]Robert Nemiroff ([32]MTU) & [33]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([34]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [35]Specific rights apply.
              [36]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [37]ASD at [38]NASA / [39]GSFC
                           & [40]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2008/CrescentSaturn_cassini_4824.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.esa.int/
   5. https://www.spacescience.org/
   6. http://ciclops.org/ir_index_main/Cassini
   7. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/saturn/overview/
   8. https://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA08388
   9. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/cassini/overview/
  10. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rings_of_Saturn
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap121222.html
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap060503.html
  13. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap041102.html
  14. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap040721.html
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170111.html
  16. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap061107.html
  17. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap051123.html
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200729.html
  19. https://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200807.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  24. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  29. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=200808
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap200809.html
  31. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  33. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  34. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  35. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  36. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  37. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  40. http://www.mtu.edu/