Huge Storm on Saturn Photographed by Cassini Spacecraft

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This storm, in Saturn's southern hemisphere, was photographed by NASA's Cassini spacecraft Dec. 24, 2010. NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute
This storm, in Saturn's southern hemisphere, was photographed by NASA's Cassini spacecraft Dec. 24, 2010. NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute (Image credit: NULL)

A new image of Saturn shows a huge storm seen previously by amateur astronomers.

Storms on the gas giant planet Saturn are common. This storm, in the ringed planet's southern hemisphere, was photographed by NASA's Cassini spacecraft Friday; the image was released today (Dec. 27).

"This storm had been sighted by the amateurs in recent weeks, but Cassini was finally in a position to take a splendid series of pictures of it," said Cassini imaging team leader Carolyn Porco. "And what a storm it is!"

Space.com Staff
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