Saturnalia

The timing of the Cassini spacecraft showing beautifully detailed black and white images of Saturn's rings couldn't be better. These pictures show our solar system unfolding in improbably delightful ways.

But here's the thing about the timing: Just when the United States seems to be at the point of self-parody, when much of the world is questioning the veracity of every U.S. foreign policy statement, and when the lies and fabulous assertions fall hollow (e.g. solving AIDS in Africa, sending humans to Mars, ending the Middle East crisis) -- American ingenuity, resources, and technology bring us these images of our brother planet Saturn. It's a relief to me, to know that Saturn's rings are as magical as they told us they were in grade school. Happy Fourth.

Posted by Andrew at July 1, 2004 11:15 PM