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Chandra X-ray Image of Saturn
Saturn's X-radiation as detected by Chandra is concentrated near the equator. This is different from a similar gaseous giant planet, Jupiter, where the most intense X-rays are associated with the strong magnetic field near its poles.
Scale: Image is 42 arcsec per side; the disk of Saturn is 17.5 arcsec in diameter
(Credit: NASA/U. Hamburg/J.Ness et al.)
Saturn's X-radiation as detected by Chandra is concentrated near the equator. This is different from a similar gaseous giant planet, Jupiter, where the most intense X-rays are associated with the strong magnetic field near its poles.
Scale: Image is 42 arcsec per side; the disk of Saturn is 17.5 arcsec in diameter
(Credit: NASA/U. Hamburg/J.Ness et al.)
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HST Optical Image of Saturn
The optical image of Saturn is due to the scattering of visible wavelength light from the Sun. The optical image is much brighter than the x-ray image (above), shows more detail, and shows the beautiful ring structures, which were not detected in X-rays. This is because the Sun emits about a million times more power in visible light than in X-rays, and X-rays scatter less efficiently from a cold surface such as Saturn.
Scale: Image is 42 arcsec per side; the disk of Saturn is 17.5 arcsec in diameter
(Credit: NASA/STScI)
The optical image of Saturn is due to the scattering of visible wavelength light from the Sun. The optical image is much brighter than the x-ray image (above), shows more detail, and shows the beautiful ring structures, which were not detected in X-rays. This is because the Sun emits about a million times more power in visible light than in X-rays, and X-rays scatter less efficiently from a cold surface such as Saturn.
Scale: Image is 42 arcsec per side; the disk of Saturn is 17.5 arcsec in diameter
(Credit: NASA/STScI)
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Return to Saturn (08 Mar 04)
Revised: May 17, 2022