The Slant on Saturn's Rings (Visible)

This image from NASA's Hubble Space Telescope shows Saturn's Southern Hemisphere and the southern face of its rings in visible light. 

Saturn experiences seasonal tilts away from and toward the Sun, much the same way Earth does, over the course of its 29.5-year orbit. This means that approximately every 30 years, we can catch Saturn with its rings at their maximum tilt of 27 degrees toward Earth and get the best glimpse of Saturn's South Pole and the southern side of the planet's rings.

Credit:

NASA/ESA and E. Karkoschka (University of Arizona)

About the Image

NASA press release
Id:opo0323c
Type:Observation
Release date:9 September 2003, 15:00
Size:2150 x 1000 px

About the Object

Name:Saturn
Type:Solar System : Planet : Type : Gas Giant
Category:Solar System

Image Formats

r.titleLarge JPEG
343.5 KB
r.titleScreensize JPEG
95.2 KB

Wallpapers

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r.title1280x1024
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r.title2048x1536
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Colours & filters

BandWavelengthTelescope
Optical
V
590 nm Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2
Optical
R
730 nm Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2

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