The first successful photographs of Saturn, showing more than just a dot, were taken by the French astronomers Paul and Prosper Henry in 1885-1886. They used a 33 cm photographic refractor at the Paris Observatory. Earlier attempts, like those by Warren de La Rue in 1857, produced images that were barely visible, with a size of only 0.5 mm.
These images, while not as detailed as modern photographs, were a significant breakthrough in planetary imaging, allowing astronomers to discern more than just a point of light.
Here's a timeline of key moments in Saturn photography:
- 1857: Warren de La Rue takes some images, but they are barely visible.
- 1885-1886: The Henry brothers achieve the first successful images showing more detail than a dot.
- 1979: Pioneer 11 flies by Saturn, taking the first up-close pictures.
- 1980: Voyager 1 flies by Saturn and captures detailed images of the rings and moons.
- 2004-2017: Cassini spacecraft orbits Saturn, providing extensive data and imagery.
- 2013: Cassini captures "The Day the Earth Smiled," a composite image including Earth and the Moon.
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