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Saturn and its moons get in on the festive spirit in stunning Cassini photos

In the tenth year of its mission, NASA's Cassini spacecraft captures Saturn and its moons in brightly colored images.

By Ananth Baliga
Saturn, seen here in its natural color, looks very much like a holiday ornament in this wide-angle image taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. At the pole lies a Saturnian version of a high-speed hurricane, eye and all. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute)
1 of 4 | Saturn, seen here in its natural color, looks very much like a holiday ornament in this wide-angle image taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft. At the pole lies a Saturnian version of a high-speed hurricane, eye and all. (Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/Space Science Institute)

NASA's Cassini spacecraft has captured visually stunning images of Saturn and its two moons, Titan and Enceladus, which resemble Christmas ornaments and a snow ball.

"During this, our tenth holiday season at Saturn, we hope that these images from Cassini remind everyone the world over of the significance of our discoveries in exploring such a remote and beautiful planetary system," said Carolyn Porco, Cassini imaging team leader, based at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colo. "Happy holidays from all of us on Cassini."

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Cassini captures Enceladus and its icy surface, looking very much like a glistening snowball, giving scientists a good view of the fissures, fractures and ridges that decorate the moon's surface. The north and south poles of Saturn are highlighted in these pictures and are captured in bright hues of blue, yellow and green and resemble Christmas ornaments.

[NASA JPL]

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