Space

Saturn at its most beautiful and awe-inspiring

A reverse view of Saturn, made by combining 165 images, revealed additional, fainter rings around the planet.
A reverse view of Saturn, made by combining 165 images, revealed additional, fainter rings around the planet.
Image: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
By
Johnny Simon
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NASA’s Cassini orbiter has been dutifully documenting Saturn for more then 10 years. In the images it sends back to Earth, Saturn is a softly lit orb, its distinctive rings slicing through space. The planet’s delicate chiaroscuro, and its interplay with its satellites, have made one of the most mesmerizing subjects in space photography.

Pictures from Cassini, mostly in black and white, evoke the minimalist black and white photography of masters Hiroshi Sugimoto and Edward Weston.

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A view of Saturn’s rings crossing in front of their own shadow.
Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
Saturn's shadow extends onto its rings in this image from 2015.
Saturn’s shadow extends onto its rings in this image from 2015.
Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
One of Saturn's satellite's Promethius, is just barely visable in this image, just below the rings, near the left side of the planet. Look for a little black dot.
One of Saturn’s satellite’s Promethius, is just barely visible in this image, just below the rings, near the left side of the planet. Look for a little black dot.
Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
A view of Saturn from its night side. Even when not directly in front of the sun, its rings still reflect light around the planet.
A view of Saturn from its night side. Even when not directly in front of the sun, its rings still reflect light around the planet.
Image: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute
A view of Tethys, one of the more than 50 known satellites that orbit Saturn.
A view of Tethys, one of the more than 50 known satellites that orbit Saturn.
Image: NASA