Solar System Simulator

Saturn's largest moon Titan is seen here just after crossing in front of the planet in August of 1995. At this time Saturn's rings where almost exactly edge-on as seen from the Earth. Several other satellites of Saturn are also visible.

Here Io is seen just passing in front of Jupiter, as seen from the Galileo spacecraft on the day of its arrival at Jupiter. Galileo has since flown by the other three Galilean satellites of Jupiter (Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto) during its orbital tour of the Jovian system.

Looking down on Saturn and many of the major satellites (with orbits shown).

Looking down on the orbits of the planets.

Earth as seen from the Moon on March 24, 1997. At 2:58UT, according to Sky & Telescope from March 1997, the Moon entered the umbra.

Spica about to be occulted by the Moon on November 29, 1994. Astronomers near central Tokyo observed a beautiful grazing occultation just above the north pole of the Moon. (See Sky & Telescope, January 1997, page 89.) Tokyo's latitude accounts exactly for the difference in position seen here.

Saturn as supposedly seen by Voyager 1. Compare with below.

Saturn as actually imaged by Voyager 1. Compare with above (note accuracy of ring appearance).

Saturn as supposedly seen by Voyager 2. Compare with below.

Saturn as actually imaged by Voyager 2. Compare with above (note position of the two satellites).

Earth and Moon as supposedly imaged by Galileo. Compare with below.

Earth and Moon as actually imaged by Galileo. Compare with above.

Io as supposedly imaged by Galileo. Compare with below.

Io as actually imaged by Galileo. Compare with above (note same/similar features on surface).