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Bruce Murray Space Image Library

Saturn mosaic on 28 October 2016

Saturn mosaic on 28 October 2016
Saturn mosaic on 28 October 2016 Cassini took the images for this wide view of Saturn on 28 October 2016, less than a year before the end of the mission. The season has advanced virtually to the opposite of what it was when Cassini arrived: it's full summer in the north pole, where Saturn's clouds make a hexagon shape. The season makes Saturn cast a relatively short shadow onto its rings. The night side of Saturn is faintly illuminated by reflected ringshine. Three moons are visible: Epimetheus (just above the right ansa, near Saturn); and Atlas and Prometheus (at the tip of the left ansa). NASA / JPL-Caltech / SSI / Ian Regan

Here are the raw frames that went into composing the image.

Frames for the "Glutton for Punishment" mosaic
Frames for the "Glutton for Punishment" mosaic Image: NASA / JPL / SSI / Emily Lakdawalla

This pair of simulations shows the positions of the moons at the start and end of the mosaic.

Simulated views of Saturn at the beginning and end of the "Glutton for Punishment" mosaic
Simulated views of Saturn at the beginning and end of the "Glutton for Punishment" mosaic Image: Ring-Moon Systems Node Saturn Viewer