Saturn in Infrared from Cassini
Image Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, SSI; Processing: Maksim Kakitsev
Explanation: Many details of Saturn appear clearly in infrared light. Bands of clouds show great structure, including long
stretching storms. Also quite striking in infrared is the unusual
hexagonal cloud pattern surrounding
Saturn's North Pole. Each side of the dark hexagon spans roughly the width of our Earth. The hexagon's existence was not predicted, and its origin and likely stability remains a
topic of research. Saturn's famous
rings circle the planet and
cast shadows below the equator. The featured image was taken by the robotic
Cassini spacecraft in 2014 in several
infrared colors -- but only processed recently. In September,
Cassini's mission will be brought to a dramatic conclusion as the spacecraft will be
directed to dive into ringed giant.
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