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Telescopic observation of Saturn has been ongoing since the earliest observations by Huygens and [[Giovanni Domenico Cassini]]. The [[Hubble Space Telescope]] and many Earth-based telescopes have taken many images of a quality comparable to that of images sent back from spacecraft.

Telescopic observation of Saturn has been ongoing since the earliest observations by Huygens and [[Giovanni Domenico Cassini]]. The [[Hubble Space Telescope]] and many Earth-based telescopes have taken many images of a quality comparable to that of images sent back from spacecraft.

The first spacecraft to visit Saturn was [[Pioneer 11]] in 1979, followed by [[Voyager 1]] (1980) and [[Voyager 2]] (1981).<ref name=Arnett/> The spacecraft of the joint NASA/[[European Space Agency|ESA]] [[Cassini-Huygens Mission]] arrived in the Saturnine system on July 1, 2004.<ref name=Arnett/> The Huygens spacecraft landed on Saturn's largest moon, [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], and transmitted images and data all during its descent and for three hours after landing. The Cassini spacecraft continues to orbit Saturn and make frequent rendezvous with its most prominent moons to this day (May 19, 2008). Its mission was originally scheduled to run for four years, ending in July 2008, but NASA has announced a two-year extension with multiple rendezvous with [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] and additional rendezvous with [[Enceladus]], [[Rhea (moon)|Rhea]], [[Dione (moon)|Dione]], and [[Helene]]. Mission planners also suggest that after two years, Cassini might still have enough fuel for another two-year extension, and speak hopefully of specific future missions to Titan and Enceladus.<ref name=extended>Brown, Dwayne, and Martinez, Carolina. "[http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/media/cassini-20080415.html NASA Extends Cassini's Grand Tour of Saturn]." [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration|NASA]], April 15, 2008. Accessed May 16, 2008.</ref>

The first spacecraft to visit Saturn was [[Pioneer 11]] in 1979, followed by [[Voyager 1]] (1980) and [[Voyager 2]] (1981).<ref name=Arnett/> The spacecraft of the joint NASA/[[European Space Agency|ESA]] [[Cassini-Huygens Mission]] arrived in the Saturnine system on July 1, 2004.<ref name=Arnett/> The Huygens spacecraft landed on Saturn's largest moon, [[Titan (moon)|Titan]], and transmitted images and data all during its descent and for three hours after landing. The Cassini spacecraft continues to orbit Saturn and make frequent rendezvous with its most prominent moons to this day (May 19, 2008). Its mission was originally scheduled to run for four years, ending in July 2008, but NASA has announced a two-year extension with multiple rendezvous with [[Titan (moon)|Titan]] and additional rendezvous with [[Enceladus]], [[Rhea (moon)|Rhea]], [[Dione (moon)|Dione]], and [[Helene]]. Mission planners also suggest that after two years, Cassini might still have enough fuel for another two-year extension, and speak hopefully of specific future missions to Titan and Enceladus.<ref name=extended>Brown, Dwayne, and Martinez, Carolina. "[https://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/cassini/media/cassini-20080415.html NASA Extends Cassini's Grand Tour of Saturn]." [[National Aeronautics and Space Administration|NASA]], April 15, 2008. Accessed May 16, 2008.</ref>

== Gallery ==

== Gallery ==