Topic: Hubble Captures Saturn's Double Light Show

[sam]

http://hubblesite.org/newscenter/archive/releases/2010/09/

In January and March 2009, astronomers using NASA's Hubble Space Telescope took advantage of a rare opportunity to record Saturn when its rings were edge-on, resulting in a unique movie featuring the nearly symmetrical light show at both of the giant planet's poles. It takes Saturn almost thirty years to orbit the Sun, with the opportunity to image both of its poles occurring only twice during that time. The 2009 Hubble Advanced Camera for Surveys data used in this movie have allowed astronomers to monitor the behavior of Saturn's poles in the same shot over a sustained period of time and to analyze the planet's northern and southern lights simultaneously.

[Clive]

Very nice image.  Saturn will be nicely placed for observation during the next few months and the rings are slightly more prominent than they were when that photo was taken a year ago.