Detailed New Image from Webb Space Telescope Reveals Saturn’s Rings Emitting Radiant Glow

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The James Webb Space Telescope has captured a breathtaking image of Saturn and its magnificent rings. This is the first time the telescope has observed the planet in near-infrared, revealing a mesmerizing glow.

NASA recently released a color-corrected image of Saturn that showcases several of its rings and some of its orbiting moons. The rendering portrays Saturn as dark and shaded while its rings shine brightly.

Saturn
Image of Saturn and some of its moons, captured by the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam instrument on June 25, 2023.
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, M. Tiscareno (SETI Institute), M. Hedman (University of Idaho), M. El Moutamid (Cornell University), M. Showalter (SETI Institute), L. Fletcher (University of Leicester), H. Hammel (AURA); image processing by J. DePasquale (STScI)

This image of Saturn is particularly striking due to the stark contrast between the planet and its shimmering rings. NASA explains that the infrared wavelength used by the Webb telescope for this image is absorbed by methane gas on Saturn. While the planet appears dark, its icy rings remain bright.

This astounding view of Saturn comes as scientists continue to explore the planet and its system. Recently, the Webb telescope detected a massive plume of water vapor emanating from Enceladus, one of Saturn’s moons known for its icy composition. This discovery is particularly intriguing as it may provide insights into the broader Saturnian water system and the potential for extraterrestrial life on Enceladus.

NASA image shows water vapor plume jetting from the southern pole of Saturn's moon Enceladus
An image from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) shows a water vapor plume jetting from the southern pole of Saturn’s moon Enceladus, extending out more than 20 times the size of the moon itself. The inset, an image from the Cassini orbiter, emphasizes how small Enceladus appears in the Webb image compared to the water plume.
NASA, ESA, CSA, Geronimo Villanueva (NASA-GSFC)

In the latest image of Saturn, taken as part of the Webb telescope’s guaranteed time observation program, Enceladus can be seen alongside the moons Dione and Tethys. This image also serves as a testing ground for the telescope’s ability to detect faint moons and provide a comprehensive understanding of Saturn’s system.

Deeper exposures captured by the Webb telescope will enable researchers to investigate Saturn’s fainter and thinner rings, composed of rocky and icy fragments. Some of these fragments are smaller than a grain of sand, while others are as large as mountains on Earth.

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