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Credit & Copyright: Christopher Go
Explanation:
Telescopic observers on Earth have been treated to spectacular
views of Saturn lately as the ringed planet reached its 2015
opposition on May 23 at 0200 UT.
Of course opposition means opposite the Sun in Earth's sky.
So near
opposition Saturn is
up all night, at its closest and brightest
for the year.
These sharp images
taken within hours of the Sun-Earth-Saturn
alignment also show the strong brightening of Saturn's rings
known as the opposition surge or the
Seeliger Effect.
Directly illuminated, the ring's icy particles cast no shadows and
strongly backscatter sunlight toward planet Earth,
creating the dramatic surge in brightness.
Saturn currently stands in the
sky not far from bright Antares,
alpha star of the constellation Sagittarius.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: rings
Publications with words: rings
See also: