QUOTE (ElkGroveDan @ Jul 23 2013, 02:13 AM)
Speaking of Facebook, the version of the image posted on the Cassini Facebook page (attached) has an exceedingly obvious blue blob. If I didn't know better I'd think that maybe someone tweaked that portion of the photo or cut and pasted Earth from some other image (but what do I know?)
What happened is that they used several frames with different exposures. The rings are from the frames with short exposure, the Earth and the lower half of the image is from the frames with longer exposure (which also show the faint outer rings of Saturn). I did the same thing here, in my third version of the image:
http://www.pictureshack.us/images/39820_earth3.jpgClick to view attachmentHere's an example of the frames used:
Short exposure -
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/photos/raw/rawi...?imageID=295022Long exposure -
http://saturn.jpl.nasa.gov/photos/raw/rawi...?imageID=295016QUOTE (brellis @ Jul 23 2013, 06:28 AM)
Is the sun visible under the edge of Saturn?
No, the Sun was hidden behind Saturn, which is why Cassini was able to take a picture of Earth in the first place. From Saturn's position, Earth appears quite close to the Sun, and there's a risk of hurting Cassini's optics and instruments if pointed that way - unless the Sun is eclipsed by Saturn.