Probing Different Depths

SATURN DAILY

Image Credit: NASA/JPL/Space Science Institute

Pasadena CA (JPL) Sep 03, 2004
These two images, taken at about the same time, demonstrate the amazing ability of Cassini's cameras to probe the different layers in Saturn's atmosphere.

While many basic details in the atmosphere are present in both images, a number of subtle details are different. Flecks of bright cloud and a few dark ovals can be seen in the image at left, while at right the contrast between the swirling light and dark bands is most apparent.

The image at left was obtained using a filter sensitive to wavelengths of infrared light centered at 938 nanometers.

The image at right is a view taken using a filter centered at 889 nanometers, where methane is most absorbing.

The images were taken with the Cassini spacecraft narrow angle camera on July 24, 2004, at a distance of 6.9 million kilometers (4.3 million miles) from Saturn.

The image scale is 41 kilometers (25 miles) per pixel. Contrast was slightly enhanced to bring out features in the atmosphere. Related Links
Cassini-Huygens mission at JPL
Composite Infrared Spectrometer at NASA
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Iapetus: Light and Dark

Pasadena CA (JPL) Sep 01, 2004
The dark material that coats one hemisphere of Saturn's moon Iapetus is very dark, as these two processed views of the same image demonstrate.

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