Saturn from Far and Near (Hubble Space Telescope)

Saturn from Far and Near (Hubble Space Telescope)
December 16, 2004
PIA NumberPIA05982
Language
  • english


Saturn from Far and Near (Hubble Space Telescope)

May 26, 2004





This image is a view from NASA's Earth-orbiting Hubble Space Telescope taken on March 22, 2004. Camera exposures in four filters (blue, blue-green, green and red) were combined to form the Hubble image and render colors similar to what the eye would see through a telescope focused on Saturn. The subtle pastel colors of ammonia-methane clouds trace a variety of atmospheric dynamics. Saturn displays its familiar banded structure, with haze and clouds at various altitudes. Like Jupiter, all bands are parallel to Saturn's equator. The magnificent rings, at nearly their maximum tilt toward Earth, show subtle hues which indicate the trace chemical differences in their icy composition.


Image Credit:

NASA, ESA and Erich Karkoschka (University of Arizona)