Pale Blue Orb: a magnificent view of Earth
October 11, 2006
Dear Friends and Colleagues,
Today, the Cassini imaging team is pleased to release a series of images, movies, and mosaics highlighting the recent findings that are being reported this week at a meeting of the Division of Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society in Pasadena, California.
These findings include additional rings and circumstantial evidence for a recent impact of a comet or meteoroid into Saturn's innermost D ring.
And as if the rich collection of spectacular images that Cassini has already returned wasn't enough, among the image products being released today is one of the most magnificent images we have yet produced: a mosaic showing the entire saturnian system, end to end, and backlit by the Sun. In this view, you will find a blue E ring, the Sun's image refracted through planet's atmosphere, and a moving view of our own planet nestled in among the rings of Saturn.
Visit...
... and revel in the sight of it all!
Carolyn Porco
Cassini Imaging Team Leader
Director/CICLOPS
Space Science Institute
Boulder, CO
Pale blue orb: Earth in Saturn's rings
Carolyn Porco, Captain's Log, September 19, 2006
"As we looked back in the direction of the sun, we captured from across the depths of space our own planet, a pale blue orb, seen amidst the pageantry and colorful splendor of Saturn's rings. Nothing has greater power to alter our perception of ourselves and our place in the cosmos than the sight of Earth from faraway places…"
© NASA. JPL. Space Science Institute 2006
Original image source:: PIA08323: Pale Blue Orb
Image Preparation: Chris Clark, Carolyn Porco; Cassini Imaging Team
Figure Caption: Carolyn Porco, Preston Dyches.
Saturn's rings in natural color
© NASA. JPL. Space Science Institute 2006 Original image source:: PIA06175: Panoramic Rings. Reproduced by Scidea Art 2006 www.ScideaNews.com ________
Invited News. Received 20061011.
The Cassini-Huygens mission
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. The Jet Propulsion Laboratory, a division of the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, manages the Cassini-Huygens mission for NASA's Office of Space Science, Washington, D.C. The imaging team consists of scientists from the US, England, France, and Germany. The imaging operations center and team lead (Dr. C. Porco) are based at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo.
For more information about the Cassini-Huygens mission, visit http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov and the Cassini imaging team home page, http://ciclops.org.
Cassini-Huygens
MISSION TO SATURN & TITAN
Presentations to Saturn
by
NASA
Jet Propulsion Laboratory
California Institute of Technology
Space Science Institute
2006
© NASA.JPL.Space Science Institute
Images Preparation: Cassini Imaging Team
Flash Video
Cassini Photo Essay: Two Years at Saturn
The Cassini spacecraft arrived at Saturn in June 2004 and is now halfway through its mission. A new photo essay showcases some stunning images returned by the mission.
Flash Video
Cassini Photo Essay: Majestic Saturn