Pictures of Earth taken from Saturn

Jimbuna · 07-23-13, 03:55 PM

There are probably better pictures available but hopefully if so then someone will post them.

Quote:

Nasa has released photos of the Earth and Moon taken by a spacecraft orbiting Saturn - nearly a billion miles away

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-23419543

Sailor Steve · 07-23-13, 04:04 PM

Always amazing.

Dowly · 07-23-13, 04:07 PM

On a mote of dust and all that.

Platapus · 07-23-13, 04:16 PM

A billion miles away! From our Earth perspective, that's a long way. From a galaxy perspective, hardly worth measuring.

A billion miles is about 0.2 light years.

The closest star to our solar system is Proxima Centauri (Wasn't he in Transformers?) and that is about 4 light years away.

Rhodes · 07-23-13, 06:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

The closest star to our solar system is Proxima Centauri (Wasn't he in Transformers?) and that is about 4 light years away.

There is no transformer with that name, I think!

So Proxima Centauri is the nearest star and Alpha Centauri is the nearest star system?

Of the photos, marvellous!

Platapus · 07-23-13, 07:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rhodes

There is no transformer with that name, I think!

So Proxima Centauri is the nearest star and Alpha Centauri is the nearest star system?

Alpha Centauri is a binary star system in which the two stars (Alpha Centauri A and Alpha Centauri B) are close enough to resolve as one bright (third brightest star) point of light. A third star of that system is Proxima Centauri (Alpha Centauri C) which can't be seen with the human eye only. Currently Proxima Centauri is the closest star.

The Centaurus Constellation is observable from the Southern Hemisphere.

Alpha Centauri B should not be confused with Beta Centaurus which is a different star system.

More than you probably ever wanted to know.

Pisces · 07-24-13, 02:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Platapus

A billion miles away! From our Earth perspective, that's a long way. From a galaxy perspective, hardly worth measuring.

A billion miles is about 0.2 light years.

The closest star to our solar system is Proxima Centauri (Wasn't he in Transformers?) and that is about 4 light years away.

That billion is probably meant to be 1.000.000.000, miles. (a thousand million) Which would be a light time of about 1.5 hours. A million million miles would be a light time of 61 days, which would be closer to your 0.2 light years.

The definition of 'billion' differs between countries/languages.

AVGWarhawk · 07-24-13, 02:08 PM

All I can say is.....the Voyager is far far away! Holy mackerel.

Platapus · 07-24-13, 06:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pisces

That billion is probably meant to be 1.000.000.000, miles. (a thousand million) Which would be a light time of about 1.5 hours. A million million miles would be a light time of 61 days, which would be closer to your 0.2 light years.

The definition of 'billion' differs between countries/languages.

Yeah yeah, but since 1974 all the important countries finally agreed with the good ole US of A!!!!!

VipertheSniper · 07-23-13, 04:17 PM

how about that:

Platapus · 07-23-13, 04:21 PM

Kinda makes some of our problems seem pretty insignificant huh?

Dowly · 07-23-13, 04:25 PM

Was just coming to post that picture. Stunning.

Uncropped picture:
http://s3.amazonaws.com/ciclops_ir_2...96_18344_1.jpg

Earth and Moon:

07-23-13, 04:04 PM	#2
Sailor Steve Eternal Patrol Join Date: Nov 2002 Location: High in the mountains of Utah Posts: 50,369 Downloads: 745 Uploads: 249	Always amazing. __________________ “Never do anything you can't take back.” —Rocky Russo

07-23-13, 04:16 PM	#4
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	A billion miles away! From our Earth perspective, that's a long way. From a galaxy perspective, hardly worth measuring. A billion miles is about 0.2 light years. The closest star to our solar system is Proxima Centauri (Wasn't he in Transformers?) and that is about 4 light years away. __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

07-24-13, 02:08 PM	#8
AVGWarhawk Lucky Jack Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: In a 1954 Buick. Posts: 28,253 Downloads: 90 Uploads: 0	All I can say is.....the Voyager is far far away! Holy mackerel. __________________ “You're painfully alive in a drugged and dying culture.” ― Richard Yates, Revolutionary Road

07-23-13, 04:21 PM	#11
Platapus Fleet Admiral Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 19,360 Downloads: 63 Uploads: 0	Kinda makes some of our problems seem pretty insignificant huh? __________________ abusus non tollit usum - A right should NOT be withheld from people on the basis that some tend to abuse that right.

07-23-13, 04:07 PM	#3
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	On a mote of dust and all that.

07-23-13, 04:17 PM	#10
VipertheSniper Ace of the Deep Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Austria Posts: 1,070 Downloads: 0 Uploads: 0	how about that:

07-23-13, 04:25 PM	#12
Dowly Lucky Jack Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Finland Posts: 25,052 Downloads: 32 Uploads: 0	Was just coming to post that picture. Stunning. Uncropped picture: http://s3.amazonaws.com/ciclops_ir_2...96_18344_1.jpg Earth and Moon: