Huge Storm on Saturn Photographed by Cassini Spacecraft

By Space.com Staff
published

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

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).

The photo is unprocessed, or raw, as astronomers described it.

"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!"

Cassini launched in 1997 and arrived at Saturn in 2004. It has been imaging Saturn ever since.

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Space.com Staff
Space.com Staff
News and editorial team

Space.com is the premier source of space exploration, innovation and astronomy news, chronicling (and celebrating) humanity's ongoing expansion across the final frontier. Originally founded in 1999, Space.com is, and always has been, the passion of writers and editors who are space fans and also trained journalists. Our current news team consists of Editor-in-Chief Tariq Malik; Editor Hanneke Weitering, Senior Space Writer Mike Wall; Senior Writer Meghan Bartels; Senior Writer Chelsea Gohd, Senior Writer Tereza Pultarova and Staff Writer Alexander Cox, focusing on e-commerce. Senior Producer Steve Spaleta oversees our space videos, with Diana Whitcroft as our Social Media Editor.