Sunrise on Saturn

The Cassini spacecraft bid farewell to the galaxy with a death dive into Saturn's atmosphere on Sept. 15, 2017. The probe launched in 1997 and delivered unprecedented looks at the ringed planet and its many moons during its mission lifespan. These images represent some of Cassini's finest views from space.

Sunrise on Saturn looks a bit different than it does on Earth. Cassini watched dawn rise on the gas giant in this image from mid-2014. The light falls artfully on Saturn's stormy atmosphere and bands of clouds.

First published May 2.

Update, Sept. 13 at 7 a.m. PT: Added eight images at the end.

Update, Sept. 15 at 9:05 a.m. PT: Added final image and information on the mission's end.

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