Getting Acquainted

The Voyager 1 spacecraft provided the first in-depth look at Saturn when it flew past the planet on November 12, 1980. It snapped this image shortly after that close encounter. Voyager's observations provided extensive information on Saturn's atmosphere, magnetic field, rings, and moons. Although it was the second spacecraft to fly past Jupiter, Voyager's instruments were far better than those of the earlier visitor. [NASA/JPL]