Saturn from above is a pretty awesome sight
This view of the planet Saturn from above, including its surrounding rings, is pretty unique.
In fact, it's one that could not possibly have been taken from Earth.
The picture, a composite 'image mosaic', is made up of shots earlier this month by the robotic Cassini spacecraft now orbiting Saturn, and shows the right side of the planet and the corresponding shadow cast across Saturn's rings.
It was made by amateur image processor and Cassini fan Gordan Ugarkovic, and shows a side of the planet never before seen, as no Earth-based camera could possibly view the right side of Saturn.
"Since Earth is much closer to the Sun than Saturn, only the day side of the ringed planet is visible from the Earth," according to NASA.
"The beautiful rings of Saturn are seen in full expanse, while cloud details are visible including the polar hexagon surrounding the north pole, and an extended light-colored storm system."
It's not the first time the Cassini spacecraft has offered us incredible images from its Saturn mission. The below shots taken in July capture not only the rings of Saturn but also the Earth, some 898 million miles (1.44bn kilometres) in the distance.
The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency
