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 July 24
   [2]The featured image shows Saturn in infrared light as captured by the
     Saturn-orbiting Cassini spacecraft in 2014. Easily visible are many
       cloud bands, rings, and the hexagonal cloud pattern surrounding
      Saturn's north pole. Please see the explanation for more detailed
                                information.

                       Saturn in Infrared from Cassini
    Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]JPL-Caltech, [5]SSI; Processing: [6]Maksim
                                  Kakitsev

   Explanation: Many details of Saturn appear clearly in infrared light.
   Bands of clouds show great structure, including long [7]stretching
   storms. Also quite striking in [8]infrared is the unusual [9]hexagonal
   cloud pattern surrounding [10]Saturn's North Pole. Each side of the
   dark [11]hexagon spans roughly the width of our Earth. [12]The
   hexagon's existence was not predicted, and its origin and likely
   stability remains a [13]topic of research. Saturn's famous [14]rings
   circle the planet and [15]cast shadows below the [16]equator. The
   featured image was taken by the robotic [17]Cassini spacecraft in 2014
   in several infrared colors. In 2017 September, the [18]Cassini mission
   was brought to a dramatic conclusion when the spacecraft was
   [19]directed to dive into ringed giant.

              Explore Your Universe: [20]Random APOD Generator
                      Tomorrow's picture: find the moon
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     __________________________________________________________________

    Authors & editors: [32]Robert Nemiroff ([33]MTU) & [34]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([35]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Phillip Newman [36]Specific rights apply.
              [37]NASA Web Privacy Policy and Important Notices
                A service of: [38]ASD at [39]NASA / [40]GSFC,
                         [41]NASA Science Activation
                           & [42]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2207/SaturnIR_CassiniKakitsev_1024.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
   5. https://www.spacescience.org/
   6. https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/MaksimKakitsev.html
   7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190915.html
   8. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/07_infraredwaves
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130220.html
  10. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/planets/saturn/overview/
  11. https://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/hexagon.html
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn's_hexagon
  13. http://laplazagigi.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/06/dog-with-glasses.jpg
  14. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/saturn-rings/en/
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120703.html
  16. https://www.nasa.gov/sites/default/files/styles/side_image/public/thumbnails/image/equator_.png?itok=fpt9ejEa
  17. https://solarsystem.nasa.gov/missions/cassini/the-journey/the-spacecraft/
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110613.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170125.html
  20. http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/random_apod.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220723.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod.rss
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  30. http://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=220724
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap220725.html
  32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  34. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  35. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  38. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  41. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  42. http://www.mtu.edu/