On June 25th, the James Webb Space Telescope captured Saturn in a way that had never been seen before: by taking images in the near-infrared spectrum. The results have already been met with fascination from the scientific community. Saturn appears very dark because the methane in its atmosphere absorbs most of the sunlight. In striking contrast, the rings of the planet shone brightly.
The Eye-Opening Visualization of Saturn's Ring System
The photograph reveals stunning details within Saturn's ring system, including several of its moons such as Dione, Enceladus, and Thetis. Additional deep exposure studies will enable the research team to examine some of the planet's more elusive rings, which remain invisible in the current image. The rings of Saturn consist of an array of rocky, icy fragments, varying in size from a speck of dust to mountain-sized particles.
Webb's Recent Discoveries: Enceladus and Beyond
Recently, researchers employed Webb to study Enceladus, one of Saturn's moons. They discovered a substantial plume erupting from the moon's south pole, containing both particles and considerable amounts of water vapor. This plume is believed to contribute to the formation of Saturn's E ring.
Source: NASA
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