Emily Lakdawalla • Nov 13, 2013
Just what is going on in that magnificent Cassini image of Saturn?
It took months of work (and no wonder) but the wait was worth it: here is Cassini's spectacular view of Saturn, captured on July 19, 2013, as Cassini passed through Saturn's shadow.
![In Saturn's Shadow (The Day the Earth Smiled)](https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_2400x933_crop_center-center_82_line/20131112_PIA17172.jpg 2400w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_1200x466_crop_center-center_82_line/20131112_PIA17172.jpg 1200w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_768x298_crop_center-center_60_line/20131112_PIA17172.jpg 768w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_576x223_crop_center-center_60_line/20131112_PIA17172.jpg 576w)
This photo is amazing, but also confusing. I thought I would try to explain some of the cool stuff you can see with a little video demonstration:
In Saturn's Shadow Emily Lakdawalla of the Planetary Society reveals the hidden features of this spectacular photo mosaic of the planet Saturn, as seen by NASA's Cassini mission in 2013.
It's also interesting to compare the photo to a similar one, taken in 2006, with the rings tilted the other way.
![In Saturn's Shadow (2006)](https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_2400x1183_crop_center-center_82_line/20131113_PIA08329.jpg 2400w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_1200x591_crop_center-center_82_line/20131113_PIA08329.jpg 1200w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_768x378_crop_center-center_60_line/20131113_PIA08329.jpg 768w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_576x284_crop_center-center_60_line/20131113_PIA08329.jpg 576w)
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