                        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.

                                 2026 June 1

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

   Explanation: Telescopic views of Saturn and its beautiful rings often
   make it the star of star parties. But this stunning view of the outer
   gas gaint planet's rings and night side just isn't possible from
   telescopes in the vicinity of planet Earth. Peering out from the inner
   Solar System they can only bring Saturn's day side into view. In fact,
   this image of Saturn's slender sunlit crescent with the planet's night
   shadow cast across its broad and complex ring system was captured by
   the robot spacecraft Cassini. After a seven year long journey from
   planet Earth, Cassini called Saturn orbit home for 13 years (from 2004
   - 2017) 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. And Saturn's night will not be seen again until
   another spaceship from Earth calls.

                       Tomorrow's picture: star debris
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                           NASA Science Activation
                             & Michigan Tech. U.

