Saturn

031-Saturn-Flyby
he Pioneer 11 probe makes the first reconnaissance of Saturn in 1979. Oil on masonite, 1974. © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com
048-Saturn-Iapetus-2
Saturn in the sky of its moon Iapetus - painting by Don Dixon, 1975
091-Ice-Cliffs-On-Titan
pools of hydrocarbons nestle between highly eroded cliffs of ice on Titan ; gouache on board, 1979
117-Below-Saturns-Rings
Below Saturn's Rings - the sun blazes briefly through the Cassini Division of Saturn's rings, as seen from the cloudtops ; acrylic on illustration board, 1980
145-Saturn-From-Phoebe
Saturn viewed from one of its more distant moons would be a tiny jewel-like object.
147-Mimas.jpg

Saturn seen from Mimas - Saturn looms large in the sky of this nearby icy moon

148-Exploring-Saturn
Exploring Saturn - a team of astronauts maneuver amidst the icebergs comprising the rings of Saturn
154-Titan-Geyser
itan Geyser - liquid methane gushes from a vent on the surface of Titan, gouache on illustration board, 1974
156-Eclipse-by-Saturn
Saturn eclipses the sun as seen from Iapetus, creating a diamond ring effect
310-Titan-Lake.jpg

Lakes of liquid methane or exotic hydrocarbons may cover the surface of Titan

333-Titan-Clouds
Saturn hangs serenely above the smoggy atmosphere of Titan, cover for Scientific American Cosmos - painting by Don Dixon
390-Encke-Gap.jpg

A cluster of icy satellites have been perturbed into a temporary orbit a few thousand miles above the plain of the rings. Tenuous rings follow intertwined paths within the Encke Gap far below.- painting by Don Dixon for Scientific American

392-Saturn-Rings-Diagram.jpg

Lord of the RIngs: Saturn's magnificent system of rings extends nearly 200,000 miles from the center of the planet, but only the denser regions are easily observerd. Saturn's glorious ring system and assorted inner satellites comprise one of the wonders of the universe. Digital painting for Scientific American. © 2012 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com

395-Saturn-Glory.jpg

The sun blazes through the Cassini Division of Saturn's Rings as viewed from 5,000 miles below the C Ring. Ilustration for Scientific American, March, 2002. The satellite Mimas is visible slightly right and below center.

406-Huygens-Titan-Descent.jpg

The Huygens probe descends on its drogue parachute toward the upper clouds of Titan. Digital, for Scientific American, 2004. © 2005 by Don Dixon.

407-Huygens-Titan-02
The Huygens probe descends on its drogue parachute toward the upper clouds of Titan. Version 2. Digital, for Scientific American, 2004. © 2005 by Don Dixon.
415-Cassini-Huygens.jpg

The Huygens spaceprobe descends to the surface of Saturn's moon Titan in this diagram depicting the mission sequence. Digital, 2004, for Scientific American. © 2005 by Don Dixon.

416-Cassini-Trajectory
The complex orbital maneuvers required to place the Cassini and Huygens probes in their proper orbits about Saturn required a very precise rocket burn near Saturn. Digital, 2004, for Scientific American. © 2005 by Don Dixon.
446-saturn-from-mimas
Saturn looms fixed in the sky of Mimas, whose surface is littered with battered ice. Commisioned by Griffith Observatory for an exhibit. Digital painting © 2007 Don Dixon/cosmographica.co
456-saturn-moon-orbit-diagram.jpg

Diagram for Scientific American shows orbits of the many satellites of Saturn. Artwork © 2007 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com

Iapetus
Saturn produces a "diamond ring" effect as it eclipses the sun in this perspective from the satellite Iapetus. acrylic, gouache, and oil glaze on illustration board, 48x35 cm, 1984.

Pioneer Saturn Encounter

The Pioneer 11 probe flys past Saturn in this pre-encounter acrylic on board painting dating from 1977.

Terraformed Titan
More than 3 billion years in the future, the slow-motion collision between the Andromeda Galaxy and our Milky Way will trigger a spectacular burst of star formation. In this painting, descendants of earth life have colonized Satun's moon Titan, which will warm as the sun ages. Cover painting for Astronomy magazine, April, 2013.
View from Iapetus
Saturn above Iapetus. Oil on panel, 1968. © Don Dixon / cosmographica.com
Sunrise on Titan, 1971
Saturn's rings poised vertically as seen from Titan's equator; oil on panel, 1971. At the time, Titan was believed to have a tenuous methane atmosphere which might afford a spectacular view of Saturn. © Don Dixon/cosmographica.com
018 The Orbiting Ice
Saturn's rings are composed of a myriad particles of ice, ranging in size from pebbles to icebergs,each following its own orbit. Oil on masonite, 1973. © Don Dixon
Saturn seen from Enceladus
Geysers of ice crystals gush from the subsurface ocean of Enceladus, gushing thousands of miles into space. Digital, © Don Dixon 2021

Titan Dawn

118 Titan Dawn; The ringed planet Saturn hangs like a shining bow in the sky of its largest moon Titan, which is shrouded in a dense atmosphere of nitrogen hazed by hydrocarbons. Although glimpses of Saturn from the surface are probably exceedingly rare, they are not impossible. Drifts of methane snow blanket the landscape. Originally painted in acrylic and gouache on illustration board in 1980, this image has been digitally restored. copyright 2014 Don Dixon / cosmographica.com