Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                              2025 February 23
   [2]The planet Saturn is seen very close up. The clouds are tinted beige
     and tan, while parts of rings are seen at the top and bottom of the
   image. At the north pole of Saturn at the top, a blue-tinted hexagon is
     visible. Please see the explanation for more detailed information.

                       Saturn in Infrared from Cassini
    Image Credit: [3]NASA, [4]JPL-Caltech, [5]SSI; Processing: [6]Maksim
                                  Kakitsev

   Explanation: Saturn looks slightly different in infrared light. Bands
   of clouds show great structure, including long [7]stretching storms.
   Also quite striking in [8]infrared is the unusual [9]hexagonal cloud
   pattern surrounding [10]Saturn's North Pole. Each side of the dark
   [11]hexagon spans roughly the width of our Earth. [12]The hexagon's
   existence was not predicted, and its origin and likely stability remain
   a [13]topics of research. Saturn's famous [14]rings circle the planet
   and [15]cast shadows below the [16]equator. The featured image was
   taken by the robotic [17]Cassini spacecraft in 2014 in several infrared
   colors. In 2017 September, the [18]Cassini mission was brought to a
   dramatic conclusion when the spacecraft was [19]directed to dive into
   the ringed giant.

   Your Sky Surprise: [20]What picture did APOD feature on your birthday?
                                 (post 1995)
                        Tomorrow's picture: lava sky
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    Authors & editors: [32]Robert Nemiroff ([33]MTU) & [34]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([35]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [36]Specific rights apply.
            [37]NASA Web Privacy, [38]Accessibility, [39]Notices;
                A service of: [40]ASD at [41]NASA / [42]GSFC,
                         [43]NASA Science Activation
                           & [44]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/image/2502/SaturnIR_CassiniKakitsev_1024.jpg
   3. https://www.nasa.gov/
   4. https://www.jpl.nasa.gov/
   5. https://www.spacescience.org/
   6. https://www.hq.nasa.gov/alsj/MaksimKakitsev.html
   7. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap190915.html
   8. https://science.nasa.gov/ems/07_infraredwaves
   9. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap130220.html
  10. https://science.nasa.gov/saturn/
  11. https://www.mathsisfun.com/geometry/hexagon.html
  12. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saturn's_hexagon
  13. https://www.reddit.com/r/AnimalsBeingFunny/comments/16tjsam/this_funny_dog_studying_for_his_obedience_test/#lightbox
  14. https://spaceplace.nasa.gov/saturn-rings/en/
  15. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap120703.html
  16. https://www.nasa.gov/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/equator_.png
  17. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/cassini/the-journey/the-spacecraft/
  18. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap110613.html
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap170125.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250222.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  25. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  26. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  27. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  28. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  30. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=250223
  31. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250224.html
  32. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  34. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  35. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  36. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  37. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  40. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  41. https://www.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  43. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  44. http://www.mtu.edu/