Embargoed Until: 9:00 a.m. (EDT) June 7, 2001

A Change of Seasons on Saturn

Looming like a giant flying saucer in our outer solar system, Saturn puts on a show as the planet and its magnificent ring system nod majestically over the course of its 29-year journey around the Sun. These Hubble telescope images, captured from 1996 to 2000, show Saturn's rings open up from just past edge-on to nearly fully open as it moves around the Sun.

Image Credit: NASA and The Hubble Heritage Team (STScI/AURA)
Acknowledgment: R.G. French (Wellesley College), J. Cuzzi (NASA/Ames),
L. Dones (SwRI), and J. Lissauer (NASA/Ames)