The shadow of Mimas falls across the Cassini Division in this beautiful natural color, wide-angle view from Cassini’s camera.

Views like these are possible only once every 15 years, as Saturn’s spring and autumn equinoxes bring its rings and moons into horizontal alignment with the equitorial plane of the solar system and the light of the sun. Saturn’s spring equinox will arrive on August 11.

This image was taken on April 8 and released today.

The Cassini mission team at the Space Science Institute in Boulder, Colorado is featuring several amazing images and animations taken during the approaching spring on Saturn…view more at the Cassini Imaging Center site here.

Image: NASA/JPL/SSI