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This
is a series of images of Saturn, as seen at many different
wavelengths, when the planet's rings were at their maximum
tilt of 27 degrees toward Earth. Saturn experiences seasonal
tilts away from and toward the sun, much the same way Earth
does. This happens over the course of its 29.5-year orbit,
which means about every 30 years, Earth observers can catch
their best glimpse of Saturn's South Pole and the southern
side of the planet's rings. Between March and April 2003,
researchers took full advantage to study the gas giant at
maximum tilt.
Photo
credit: NASA/E. Karkoschka (University of Arizona)
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