The Ring Planet Saturn

Welcome to Ring Planet Information
A website about the planet Saturn

Saturn is one of the most magnificient planetary views in the sky. Saturn is a gas giant with a ring of moonlettes which is easily visable to binoculars or telescopic viewing. The Rings of Saturn were first observed by Galileo Galilei with his telescope in 1610. Saturn is named after the Roman god Saturn (father of Zeus).

Today in Astronomy History
courtesy of astroplanet.info

July 4, 1054
Chinese astronomers record a bright supernova later to become the Crab Nebula (M1).

July 4, 1968
Radio astronomy satellite Explorer 38 is launched.

July 4, 1997
NASA's Pathfinder probe lands on Mars

July 4, 2005
Comet Tempel 1 collides with the "Deep Impact" probe

...also in Astronomy Today
courtesy of astroplanet.info

July 4, 2009
Earth reaches Aphelion

July 4, 2009
Mercury disappears into the glare of the morning Sun.

July 4, 2009
Venus passes less than 7° of the asterism Pleiades (M45)