2023年08月25日:土星的一季-（A Season of Saturn）--原图下载
Image Credit &Copyright: Andy Casely
说明: 2023年8月27日，拥有行星环的土星将发生土星冲，于地球天空中与太阳180度反向。届时，这颗离太阳第六远的行星，将处在最明亮、非常适合观测的位置，不过肉眼并无法见到它美丽的环系。然而，这组摄于过去6年期间、每年拍摄一祯的望远镜影像系列，清楚呈现了在内行星地球所见到的土星和土星环。在影像里，这颗气态巨行星的行星环面，从2018年的最正向倾侧转变成2023年的接近侧向（从上到下）。对土星的北半球来说，季节也在这段期间从夏季来到了土星的秋分附近。在这幅清晰的行星影像里，于2018年之时，土星的北极六角云与大风暴系统清楚可辨。于2023年，冰卫星土卫三（Tethys）正在淩越土星，并把影子投射在南半球的云带上，而土星冰寒泛蓝的南极，也正从将近10年的冬季永夜中冒出头来。
原文：
Image Credit &Copyright: Andy Casely
Explanation: Ringed planet Saturnwill be at its 2023 opposition,opposite the Sun in Earth's skies, on August 27.While that puts the sixth planet from the Sun at itsbrightest and well-placedfor viewing, its beautiful ring system isn'tvisible to the unaided eye.Still, this sequence of six telescopic images taken a year apartfollows both Saturn and rings as seen from inner planet Earth.The gas giant's ring plane tiltsfrom most open in 2018 to approaching edge-on in 2023 (top to bottom).That's summer to nearly the autumnequinox for Saturn's northern hemisphere.In the sharp planetary portraits Saturn's northernhexagon and a largestorm system are clearly visible in 2018.In 2023 ice moon Tethysis transiting, casting its shadow acrosssouthern hemisphere cloud bands whileSaturn's cold blue south pole is emergingfrom almost a decade of winter darkness.
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