Saturn Through Two Space Telescopes: Hubble vs. James Webb
This stunning side-by-side shows Saturn like never before—captured by two of humanity's most powerful space telescopes.
Top Image – Hubble (Oct 22, 2023):
From 1.365 billion km away, Hubble reveals ethereal ring spokes, ghostly features that appear and fade with Saturn’s seasons. These massive, Earth-sized spokes are still not fully understood, though scientists believe they're caused by electrostatic interactions between Saturn’s magnetic field and sunlight.
Bottom Image – James Webb (June 25, 2023):
Webb’s first-ever near-infrared view of Saturn reveals the planet as strikingly dark, thanks to methane absorbing most sunlight in its atmosphere—while the icy rings glow brightly. This deep exposure also aims to detect faint moons and better understand the planet’s dynamic system.
Together, these views showcase the beauty and mystery of Saturn—from visible light to infrared—and mark a powerful collaboration across decades of exploration. One planet, two perspectives, endless wonder.
Credits:
Top Image: NASA, ESA, STScI, A. Simon (NASA-GSFC)
Bottom Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, J. DePasquale (STScI)
#Saturn #JamesWebb #Hubble #NASA #ESA #JWST #Astronomy #SpaceTelescopes #RingedPlanet #CosmicWonders #InfraredSpace #HubbleHeritage #WebbTelescopeSaturn Through Two Space Telescopes: Hubble vs. James Webb
This stunning side-by-side shows Saturn like never before—captured by two of humanity's most powerful space telescopes.
Top Image – Hubble (Oct 22, 2023):
From 1.365 billion km away, Hubble reveals ethereal ring spokes, ghostly features that appear and fade with Saturn’s seasons. These massive, Earth-sized spokes are still not fully understood, though scientists believe they're caused by electrostatic interactions between Saturn’s magnetic field and sunlight.
Bottom Image – James Webb (June 25, 2023):
Webb’s first-ever near-infrared view of Saturn reveals the planet as strikingly dark, thanks to methane absorbing most sunlight in its atmosphere—while the icy rings glow brightly. This deep exposure also aims to detect faint moons and better understand the planet’s dynamic system.
Together, these views showcase the beauty and mystery of Saturn—from visible light to infrared—and mark a powerful collaboration across decades of exploration. One planet, two perspectives, endless wonder.
Credits:
Top Image: NASA, ESA, STScI, A. Simon (NASA-GSFC)
Bottom Image: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, J. DePasquale (STScI)
#Saturn #JamesWebb #Hubble #NASA #ESA #JWST #Astronomy #SpaceTelescopes #RingedPlanet #CosmicWonders #InfraredSpace #HubbleHeritage #WebbTelescope
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