Watch: Voyager 1's groundbreaking images of Saturn

Prior to 1980, it was generally accepted that the planet Saturn had three or four major rings. Today, we know that the planet's rings in fact consist of hundreds of smaller ringlets, thanks to a pioneering space probe named Voyager. Thirty-two years ago today, Voyager 1 gave humanity its closest look yet of the ringed planet.

On November 12, 1980, Voyager 1 made its closest pass of Saturn. From a distance of 77,000 miles, the satellite took photographs and video of the gas giant, as well as its large and unusual moon Titan.

During its travels through the solar system, Voyager 1 and its sister satellite Voyager 2, made several groundbreaking discoveries. Images taken of Jupiter by the Voyager probes were the first to show that the gas giant had planetary rings. 

Since it launched in 1977, Voyager has given astronomers previously unprecedented views of the cosmos. The satellite is currently pushing the boundaries of explored space; the Voyager mission team believes that the space probe will soon leave our solar system entirely and enter the vastness of interstellar space -- if it hasn't already.