                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    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 November 26

                               Saturn at Night
      NASA, JPL-Caltech, Space Science Institute, Mindaugas Macijauskas

   Explanation: Saturn is still bright in planet Earth's night skies.
   Telescopic views of the distant gas giant and its beautiful rings often
   make it a star at star parties. But this stunning view of Saturn's
   rings and night side just isn't possible from telescopes closer to the
   Sun than the outer planet. They can only bring Saturn's day into view.
   In fact, this image of Saturn's slender sunlit crescent with night's
   shadow cast across its broad and complex ring system was captured by
   the Cassini spacecraft. A robot spacecraft from planet Earth, Cassini
   called Saturn orbit home for 13 years before it was directed to dive
   into the atmosphere of the gas giant on September 15, 2017. This
   magnificent mosaic is composed of frames recorded by Cassini's
   wide-angle camera only two days before its grand final plunge. Saturn's
   night will not be seen again until another spaceship from Earth calls.

                      Tomorrow's picture: supernumerary
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Phillip Newman Specific rights apply.
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