Beautiful planet Saturn- jewel of the Solar System

Saturn is not the brightest planet as seen from the Earth but it sure is the most beautiful. It’s rings, observed by using a small or larger telescope, always amazes everyone and is a wonder to behold. Once thought to be the only planet with rings (we now know Jupiter, Uranus and even Neptune have smaller rings), these rings have most likely been caused by pieces from other moons and shattered moons and materials. More about the rings and Saturn.

http://solar-system-astronomy.suite101.com/article.cfm/planetary_ring_systems

3/4/2009
(if not this date go to this link/website and then go to archives link which is on the APOD page lower portion)
http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/astropix.html

Iceball falls into the Sun

On Feb. 23rd, the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) observed a comet plunge into the sun and disintegrate. This one was part of a family of small comets called Kreutz sungrazers which resulted from the breakup of a giant comet s over 2000 years ago. Most are small and faint, but this one was a beauty. Watch the movie of its demise. The comet appears coming up from the left at around 8 oclock. (The black disc is a coronography type instruments that shield the Sun to show the surrounding area).
http://sohowww.nascom.nasa.gov/pickoftheweek/C3_comet_feb09_zm.mov