Sunset on Saturn's Rings

This is a rare view of Saturn's rings seen just after the Sun has set below the ring plane, taken with the Hubble Space Telescope on Nov. 21, 1995.

This perspective is unusual because the Earth is slightly above (2.7 degrees latitude) Saturn's rings and the Sun is below them. Normally we see the rings fully illuminated by the Sun.

Credit:

Phil Nicholson (Cornell University), Steve Larson (University of Arizona) and NASA/ESA

About the Image

NASA press release
Id:opo9618a
Type:Observation
Release date:26 April 1996, 06:00
Size:944 x 582 px

About the Object

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

Image Formats

r.titleLarge JPEG
84.0 KB
r.titleScreensize JPEG
76.0 KB

Colours & filters

BandTelescope
Optical Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2

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