Saturn's moons (2009 March 19)

[orin stepanek]

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090319.html

I was amazed how large Titan appeared compared to the smaller three moons. Saturn always has a special mystique in comparison to the other planets and this photo is no different. Only Earth is more beautiful. 8)

Orin

[neufer]

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090319.html
I was amazed how large Titan appeared compared to the smaller three moons.

A comparison of moon sizes.

What amazes me is the perspective that makes:

1) Mimas & Enceladus right at the edges of Saturn and
2) Enceladus, Dione & Titan all lie in a straight line.

[Indigo_Sunrise]

Well, this image did it for me. I made a 'Digg' account and then 'dugg' this image! How fantastic is this?!? I especially liked the link to the video sequence showing the motion of each of the moons across Saturn.
That is just too cool for words!!!! So ---> 8)

[bongman]

I find it hard (some really amazing photos excepted) to get excited over stuff like this in picture form, to really appreciate I have to see it with my own telescope, really impressive picture though..... if you have never done it, see it with your own eye (via scope)

[aristarchusinexile]

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090319.html

I was amazed how large Titan appeared compared to the smaller three moons. Saturn always has a special mystique in comparison to the other planets and this photo is no different. Only Earth is more beautiful. 8)

Orin

I still favour Mars because of the likelihood of encountering creatures .. nice landscapes, too. The methane rain moon, can't remember the name right now, must be a fascinating place too.

[orin stepanek]

http://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap090319.html

I was amazed how large Titan appeared compared to the smaller three moons. Saturn always has a special mystique in comparison to the other planets and this photo is no different. Only Earth is more beautiful. 8)

Orin

I still favour Mars because of the likelihood of encountering creatures .. nice landscapes, too. The methane rain moon, can't remember the name right now, must be a fascinating place too.

Titan has the methane! 8) http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/4193043.stm

Orin

[apodman]

I especially liked the link to the video sequence showing the motion of each of the moons across Saturn.

Thanks for the tip. It goes to show how much there is to be missed in APOD descriptions when I don't click on every link.

[neufer]

From left to right are Enceladus and shadow, Dione and shadow, and Saturn's largest moon Titan. Small moon Mimas is just touching Saturn's disk near the ring plane at the far right.

Mimas, Dione, and Titan transiting Saturn from the Earth resembles
Mercury, Earth, and Uranus transiting Sol from about 110 AU out.

[Indigo_Sunrise]

apodman - were you busting my chops for not including the video link in my post? Just in case, I edited it to include the link.

But yeah, I spend a lot of time following the links included in the descriptions. More time than I should, I'm sure. (I get a bit disappointed when there are so many links to 'Wikipedia' included in a description... however that's a whole 'nother thread!)

But I'll credit my slightly-above-noob-status as a stargazer to all the reading I've done since I started visiting this site!

[twhmmh]

...

Wondering about the apparent difference in the diameter of Saturn in the photo, 'with' the rings and 'across' the rings, if that makes sense..

Is it real or an photo 'artifact' or..??


Obviously my intimate knowledge of Saturn is weak...


...tom...

[BMAONE23]

...

Wondering about the apparent difference in the diameter of Saturn in the photo, 'with' the rings and 'across' the rings, if that makes sense..

Is it real or an photo 'artifact' or..??


Obviously my intimate knowledge of Saturn is weak...


...tom...

Saturn is visibly flattened (oblate) when viewed in line with the ring plane; its equatorial and polar diameters vary by almost 10% (120,536 km vs. 108,728 km). This is the result of its rapid rotation and fluid state. The other gas planets are also oblate, but not so much so.

[twhmmh]

Saturn is visibly flattened (oblate) when viewed in line with the ring plane; its equatorial and polar diameters vary by almost 10% (120,536 km vs. 108,728 km). This is the result of its rapid rotation and fluid state. The other gas planets are also oblate, but not so much so.

.
Thanks for the 'most helpful' reply/answer.

I would have guessed that but wanted to be sure. While I am not a '24/7' astonomy nut . . .is is surprising that I have never noticed or read of this before. Always something new to learn.

Thanks again..!!


...tom...
.

[BMAONE23]

HERE is the source and also many other interesting Saturnian facts.

[apodman]

apodman - were you busting my chops for not including the video link in my post? ... Just in case, I edited it to include the link.

actually - I thought someone might have critical thoughts about me for not including it in my post, but then I thought everyone's life would be more enriched by going back and reviewing all the links the same as I did (and they could think of me what they want).

[StACase]

Very detailed photos of Saturn:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... -life.html

[aristarchusinexile]

Very detailed photos of Saturn:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... -life.html

Great photos! thanks.

[neufer]

Very detailed photos of Saturn:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/ ... -life.html

I'm having trouble making sense of the following:


One of Saturn's moons, Rhea, passes in front of the planet's largest moon, Titan
(lit from behind by the Sun). The Cassini mission found Titan to have parallels with Earth.