Voyager 2 Image of Saturn

This Voyager 2 image, taken Aug. 18 from a distance of 6.8 million kilometers (4.2 million miles), shows the region extending from 20 north latitude to Saturn's polar region. Several small-scale spots evident at around 37 north move in an easterly jet at a speed approaching 15 meters-per-second (33 mph). Toward the boundary with the white cloud band are several cloud strands that mark part of the westerly flow of the atmosphere. This flow reaches a maximum in the "ribbonlike" structure, with wind speeds of about 150 meters-per-second (330 mph). Further cloud bands and small-scale spots can be seen toward Saturn's north pole. The smallest features evident here measure about 65 km. (40 mi.) across. The Voyager project is managed for NASA by the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, Calif.