![]() ![]() Image of Saturn and some of its moons, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam instrument on June 25, 2023. This new image of Saturn also reveals intricate details within the ring system, showcasing several of the planet’s moons like Dione, Enceladus, and Tethys. Unlike the atmosphere, Saturn’s rings lack methane, so at this infrared wavelength, they are no darker than usual and thus easily outshine the darkened planet. ![]() Interestingly, researchers previously spotted similar wave-like features in early JWST NIRCam observations of Jupiter. Instead, Saturn’s disk appears dark, and we see features associated with high-altitude stratospheric aerosols, including large, dark, and diffuse structures in Saturn’s northern hemisphere that don’t align with the planet’s lines of latitude. As a result, Saturn’s familiar striped patterns aren’t visible because the methane-rich upper atmosphere blocks our view of the primary clouds. Methane gas absorbs almost all the sunlight falling on the atmosphere at this picture’s specific infrared wavelength (3.23 microns). Any newly discovered moons could help scientists put together a more complete picture of the current system of Saturn, as well as its past. This image serves as context for an observing program that will test the telescope’s capacity to detect faint moons around the planet and its bright rings. Saturn’s iconic rings seem to glow eerily in this incredible infrared picture, which also unveils unexpected features in Saturn’s atmosphere. June 30, 2023, Mountain View, CA – Get ready to be amazed by the latest James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) image. ![]()
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