Broken Rings?

broken ringsThat’s not a gap in Saturn’s rings. It’s the planet’s shadow. During most of Saturn’s year, the planet’s shadow extends well beyond the edge of the rings.  However, with summer solstice fast approaching, the Sun is higher in Saturn’s sky and most of Saturn’s A ring is completely shadow-free.

Saturn’s large moon Titan, its northern hemisphere in sunlight of late spring, hangs above the rings.

Image Credit: NASA

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