Amazing Saturn Photo: Cassini's Awe-Inspiring Image

In summary: This photograph, taken by Carolyn Porco, leader of the Imaging Team for the Cassini mission to Saturn, captures the awe-inspiring view of Saturn backlit by the sun. The Earth appears as a tiny dot in the upper left corner, showcasing the fragility and finiteness of our planet. Despite its stunning beauty and technical achievement, this photograph has not received the recognition it deserves in mainstream media. However, it has captured the attention of many, including scientists and astronomy enthusiasts like Phil Plait, also known as the Bad Astronomer. This photo has been featured on the cover of Astronomy magazine and has been widely discussed and praised. Its significance and impact cannot be denied, making it a must-see for anyone interested in space and
  • #1
setAI
472
1
I just found this on Edge.org- it has got to be one of the most beautiful space photographs ever- taken by Casini- shown at the TED conference:

http://www.edge.org/documents/images/newrings_cassini1000.gif

the caption:
One of these days, Edge may want to run this photo, which planetary scientist Carolyn Porco, leader of the Imaging Team for the Cassini mission to Saturn, showed us at the TED Conference: Saturn backlit by the sun, with the Earth appearing as a tiny dot in upper left (shown in the inset blowup). It is not only perhaps the most stunning photograph ever taken, but the fact that it has not appeared on the cover of Time, New York Times, etc., is a sign of our culture's indifference to science. This is truly awe-inspiring — not just visually beautiful, but a mind-boggling technical achievement, and a way to depict the finiteness and fragility of the planet in a way that we haven’t experienced since the famous "Earthrise" photo from the Apollo program in the late 1960s. — Steve Pinker
 
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  • #2
Great photo - it was on the cover of Astronomy a few months ago.
 
  • #3
The Bad Astronomer, Phil Plait, for one is crazy about that picture.

http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2006/10/11/best-saturn-picture-evah/
http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2006/10/25/get-saturn-on-the-natgeo-cover/
http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2006/11/20/national-geographic-bends-to-the-will-of-the-bablog/
http://www.badastronomy.com/bablog/2006/12/27/the-top-ten-astronomy-images-of-2006/

Of course, who in their right mind wouldn't be?
 
  • #4
setAI said:
I just found this on Edge.org- it has got to be one of the most beautiful space photographs ever- taken by Casini- shown at the TED conference:

http://www.edge.org/documents/images/newrings_cassini1000.gif
Beautiful!
 

Related to Amazing Saturn Photo: Cassini's Awe-Inspiring Image

1. What makes this Saturn photo so amazing?

The Cassini spacecraft captured this image of Saturn from a unique angle, showcasing the planet's beautiful rings in incredible detail. The high-resolution image also reveals a glimpse of Saturn's moons and the planet's distinct cloud patterns.

2. How was this photo taken?

The Cassini spacecraft used its onboard cameras to take multiple images of Saturn and its rings, which were then stitched together to create this stunning composite image. The spacecraft also adjusted its position to capture the planet at the perfect angle and distance.

3. How far away is Saturn from Earth?

On average, Saturn is approximately 1.4 billion kilometers away from Earth. However, its distance from Earth varies depending on its position in its orbit.

4. What is the Cassini spacecraft?

The Cassini spacecraft was a robotic space probe launched by NASA in 1997 to study Saturn and its moons. It was equipped with a variety of instruments, including cameras, spectrometers, and radar, to gather data and images of the planet and its surroundings.

5. What have we learned from the Cassini mission?

The Cassini mission provided us with a wealth of information about Saturn and its moons, including the discovery of new moons and the confirmation of liquid water on Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons. The mission also provided us with stunning images and data that have helped us better understand the planet's atmosphere, rings, and magnetic field.

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