Space and Physics
PUBLISHED
NASA’s Cassini has returned another stunning, and scientifically significant, image of a far-off celestial body – this time capturing Saturn’s fourth largest moon in transit across the face of the planet.
The rest of this article is behind a paywall. Please sign in or subscribe to access the full content.Observing transits allows astronomers to study the orbits of planets and their atmospheres. By meticulously observing the journey of the moon across the face of the planet, astronomers can precisely determine the orbital parameters of Saturn’s moons.
The image was captured at a distance of roughly 2.25 million kilometers (1.4 million miles) from Saturn, with its icy satellite Dione snapped in front during its journey around the planet.
[H/T: NASA]
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