Since 2004 , NASA ’s Cassini orbiter has been collecting data on Saturn , its doughnut and its moons , capture breathtaking images of them all as it courses through place .
The pic you ’re looking at is among the former of Saturn and its satellites to be captured by Cassini , one that reveals through stunning opus the difference in scale , form , and orbital stance of four of the planet ’s 62 known moons .
Looming in the setting of the image is the moon Titan , Saturn ’s largest ; according to Bad Astronomy ’s Phil Plait , the haze you see just above the open of Titan in this range is its boneheaded atomic number 7 atmosphere ( seeherefor a larger range of a function of Titan and its atmospheric haze , also captured by the Cassini ballistic capsule ) .
Shining bright in the foreground of the image is Dione , one of the planet ’s several frozen planet .
On the far right of the ikon , lie in just outsideSaturn ’s F Ring , is the oblong , football - forge Pandora ( clickherefor a close view of Pandora that I ’m not completely convinced is n’t in reality a potato ) .
The 4th moon is named Pan , and while it ’s a piffling elusive to identify in this image it ’s definitely visible . Located in what is know as the“Encke gap”in Saturn ’s A Ring , Pan is one of just two Moon known to revolve inside the planet ’s mob system , and can be spotted in the crack in the ring on the left hand of the image up top . Shown here is a more top - down sentiment of Pan orbit within the Encke Gap , which may serve you spot it in the edge - on purview of Saturn ’s rings boast above .
As a side note , I ca n’t quite put my finger on it , but something about the authorship of this photo immediately call to mind this bill from Duncan Jones ’ Moon . Is anyone else picking up on that vibe , or does it simply seethe down to this being a pitch-dark and white picture featuring a jumbo hovering globe ?
[ CICLOPSviaBad Astronomy ]
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