September 21, 1997
The same gravity that holds galaxies together and keeps planets in their orbits also held you to the Earth on the day you were born.
Looking Down on Saturn
Birthday · September 21, 1997
A little universe, just for you
Your date.
Ready to give.
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APOD published September 21, 1997. Full image credits are on the original APOD entry below. A publication-date match, not a photo taken on your date. Independent of NASA.
This picture of Saturn could not have been taken from Earth. No Earth based picture could possibly view the night side of Saturn and the corresponding shadow cast across Saturn's rings. Since Earth is much closer to the Sun than Saturn, only the day side of the planet is visible from the Earth. In fact, this photo was taken by the Voyager 1 spacecraft as it flew by Saturn in November 1980. The next spacecraft to approach Saturn will be Cassini which is currently scheduled to be launched later this year and reach Saturn in 2004.