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.

                                2026 June 16
    [2]Saturn is shown up close with its ring plane running up diagonally
   from the lower right. Two small moons are visible. Near the top of the
   planet are large dark bands that are shadows of the rings onto Saturn's
    cloud tops. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

               Moons, Rings, Shadows, Clouds: Saturn (Cassini)
      Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]JPL-Caltech, [5]Space Science Institute

   Explanation: While cruising around Saturn, be on the lookout for
   picturesque arrangements of moons, rings, and shadows. [6]One such
   striking sight occurred in 2005 and was captured by the then
   [7]Saturn-orbiting Cassini spacecraft. In the featured image, moons
   [8]Mimas (left) and [9]Tethys (right) are visible on either side of
   [10]Saturn's thin rings, which are seen nearly edge-on. Across the top
   of [11]Saturn are dark [12]shadows of the wide rings, exhibiting their
   impressive complexity. The [13]violet-light image brings up the texture
   of the backdrop: [14]Saturn's clouds. Cassini orbited Saturn [15]from
   2004 until mid-2017, when the [16]robotic spacecraft was directed to
   [17]dive into Saturn to keep it from [18]contaminating any moons.

               Explore the Universe: [19]Random APOD Generator
                       Tomorrow's picture: open space
     __________________________________________________________________

      [20]< | [21]Archive | [22]Submissions | [23]Index | [24]Search |
   [25]Calendar | [26]RSS | [27]Education | [28]About APOD | [29]Discuss |
                                    [30]>
     __________________________________________________________________

    Authors & editors: [31]Robert Nemiroff ([32]MTU) & [33]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([34]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [35]Specific rights apply.
            [36]NASA Web Privacy, [37]Accessibility, [38]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/2606/SaturnRingsMoons_Cassini_960.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
   5. https://www.spacescience.org/index.php
   6. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090505.html
   7. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cassini/
   8. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mimas_(moon)
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170205.html
  10. https://science.nasa.gov/resource/saturns-rings-2/
  11. https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/
  12. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120703.html
  13. https://science.nasa.gov/photojournal/supreme-beauty/
  14. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn#Atmosphere
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170911.html
  16. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cassini/the-journey/the-spacecraft/
  17. https://i.pinimg.com/736x/93/2a/bc/932abc62ec8cf82d7d93fe639c7cba55.jpg
  18. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cassini/grand-finale/overview/
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/random_apod.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260615.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.com/feed.rss
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  29. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260616
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260617.html
  31. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/department/faculty/nemiroff/
  32. https://www.mtu.edu/physics/
  33. https://inspirehep.net/authors/1073087
  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://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  39. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/astrophysics/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  42. https://science.nasa.gov/learn/about-science-activation/
  43. http://www.mtu.edu/