"stm31415" <sam### [at] cscom> wrote:
> Thomas Lake <smi### [at] hotmailcom> wrote:
> > Mike Williams wrote:
> > > Wasn't it stm31415 who wrote:
> > >
> > >>Do the rings EVER cast a shadow on the planet? Not that I have ever seen.
> > >>Nice job with this and the others.
> > >
> > >
> > > Yes they do. Here's an actual Cassini photo:
> > > <http://photojournal.jpl.nasa.gov/catalog/PIA06415>
> >
> > In fact almost always cast a shadow.
>
> So, then, earth's personal perspective is relatively close to that of the
> sun's and the shadows of the rings are almost entirely hidden behind the
> rings themselves? Because that's a pretty massive shadow not to be seen w/
> a small telescope. Here was me thinking they just weren't dense enough to
> cast a shadow. Well, you learn something new every day.

You never get to see shadows of Saturn's rings from earth because we're
always looking at it face-on.  Saturn is always behind us.  Cassini
approached Saturn from the side and therefore got to see the shadow.  We'll
never see the shadow from earth.

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