Tuesday, December 25, 2012

Happy Saturnalia!

Famous dark-side Saturn photo -
click to view a very large version.

That is Saturn, as seen by the Cassini spacecraft on Oct. 17, 2012. It’s a mosaic of 60 images (taken in violet, red, and infrared light seen here in false color), methodically stitched together to produce this jaw-dropping view, and you absolutely positively must grab the bigger, higher-resolution version. It's stunning.
Saturnalia was an ancient Roman festival in honour of the deitySaturn held on December 17 of the Julian calendar and later expanded with festivities through December 23. The holiday was celebrated with a sacrifice at the Temple of Saturn in the Roman Forum and a public banquet, followed by private gift-giving, continual partying, and a carnival atmosphere that overturnedRoman social normsgambling was permitted, and masters provided table service for their slaves.[1] The poet Catullus called it "the best of days."[2]