HUBBLE ATLAS
Occultation of GSC5249-01240 by Saturn and its Rings — image from the Hubble Space Telescope

Solar System

Occultation of GSC5249-01240 by Saturn and its Rings

June 5, 1995 · NASA

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During an occultation of a star by a planet, the planet passes between the star and the observer. The star then becomes a "probe" of the planet, allowing scientists to determine the temperature and composition of the occulting planet's atmosphere and the structure of its ring system.