Image of the Day: July 2012

By Space.com Staff
published

Shadow Dancing

NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute

Monday, July 30, 2012: Saturn's moon Daphnis makes waves in the Keeler Gap of the planet's A ring in this view taken around the time of Saturn's August 2009 equinox. Shadows cast by Daphnis fall on the A ring, just below the center of the image. The image was taken in visible light on Aug. 16, 2009. The view was acquired at a distance of approximately 1.3 million miles (2.1 million kilometers) from Saturn.

— Tom Chao

Look Sharp Core!

Canada-France-Hawaii Telescope/Coelum

Tuesday, July 31, 2012: Spiral galaxy NGC 247 possesses a sharp core instead of a bulge composed of old stars at its center. In addition, the irregular arms could indicate that the galaxy recently interacted with another galaxy causing the disturbance.

— Tom Chao

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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.