The Cassini-Huygens mission is a cooperative project of NASA, the European Space Agency and the Italian Space Agency. Go to NASA photo page - Saturn's Ring System In addition to the previously known blue color of the C-ring and the Cassini Division, the picture shows additional color differences between the inner B-ring and outer region (where the spokes form) and between these and the A-ring. This highly enhanced color view was assembled from clear, orange and ultraviolet frames obtained Augfrom a distance of 8.9 million kilometers (5.5 million miles). Possible variations in chemical composition from one part of Saturn's ring system to another are visible in this Voyager 2 picture as subtle color variations that can be recorded with special computer-processing techniques. The spatial resolution of the ring portion of the image is 200 kilometers (124 miles). Water freezes at 273 Kelvin (32 degrees Fahrenheit). Green is equivalent to 90 Kelvin (-298 degrees Fahrenheit). Red represents temperatures of about 110 Kelvin (-261 degrees Fahrenheit), and blue 70 Kelvin (-333 degrees Fahrenheit). The image was made from data taken by Cassini's composite infrared spectrometer instrument. This image represents the most detailed look to date at the temperature of Saturn's rings. The varying temperatures of Saturn's rings are depicted here in this false-color image from the Cassini spacecraft. Go to NASA photo page - Enhanced Images of Saturn Voyager 2 was 43 million kilometers (27 million miles) from Saturn when it took this photograph. Several changes were apparent in Saturn's atmosphere since Voyager 1's November 1980 encounter, and the planet's rings had brightened considerably due to the higher sun angle. This enhanced-color image was created by combining three images taken through ultraviolet, violet and green filters on July 12, 1981. Go to NASA photo page - Seasons on Saturn These Hubble Space Telescope images, captured from 1996 to 2000, show Saturn's rings open up from just past edge-on to nearly fully open as it moves from autumn towards winter in its Northern Hemisphere. Looming like a giant flying saucer in our outer solar system, Saturn puts on a show as the planet and its magnificent ring system nod majestically over the course of its 29-year journey around the Sun. Go to NASA photo page - Voyager Images of Saturn By contrast, Saturn's rings and icy satellites appear to be composed primarily of water ice. Above those clouds, Saturn's atmosphere, like those of the Sun and the other three gas giant planets, is composed almost exclusively of hydrogen and helium. Most of the visible markings are formed in a layer of ammonia ice clouds, which form at a pressure level in Saturn's atmosphere that is comparable to sea-level atmospheric pressure on Earth. This 1981 Voyager 2 image shows the vast Saturn ring system, as well as three small icy satellites and the shadow of a fourth. This results in sunlight being scattered at shorter (bluer) wavelengths, thus giving the northernmost latitudes their bluish appearance at visible wavelengths. Saturn's northern hemisphere is presently relatively cloud-free, and rays of sunlight take a long path through the atmosphere. The long, dark lines on the atmosphere are shadows cast by the planet's rings. Mimas drifts along in its orbit against the azure backdrop of Saturn's northern latitudes in this true color view. The following are some of our favorites:Ĭassini Spacecraft Witnesses Saturn's Blues Most photos are also available in high resolution. From that page click on Saturn in the left-side navigation to see the entire collection. You can see most of what is available on the Cassini-Huygens Mission Images page. These images may not be used by persons who are not NASA employees or on products (including Web pages) that are not NASA sponsored.Īt NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory you can find many beautiful and mysterious images that can be used in your design projects. This general permission does not include the NASA insignia logo (the blue "meatball" insignia), the NASA logotype (the red "worm" logo) and the NASA seal.
You may use NASA imagery, video and audio material for educational or informational purposes, including photo collections, textbooks, public exhibits and Internet Web pages. NASA images generally are not copyrighted. Before you publish any NASA images make sure to read their complete Photo Guidelines, which includes this clearance for general use: