Artist's Rendering of Saturn's Infrared Ring

Spitzer_ssc2009-19c1_1024

spitzer_ssc2009-19c1 November 6th, 2009

Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (SSC)

This artist's conception shows a nearly invisible ring around Saturn -- the largest of the giant planet's many rings. It was discovered by NASA's Spitzer Space Telescope.

The ring is so diffuse that it reflects little sunlight, or visible light that we see with our eyes. But its dusty particles shine with infrared light, or heat radiation, that Spitzer can see.

The artist's conception simulates an infrared view of the giant ring. Saturn appears as just a small dot from outside the band of ice and dust. The bulk of the ring material starts about six million kilometers (3.7 million miles) away from the planet and extends outward roughly another 12 million kilometers (7.4 million miles). The ring's diameter is equivalent to roughly 300 Saturns lined up side to side.

The ring, stars and wispy clouds are an artist's representation.

Provider: Spitzer Space Telescope

Image Source: http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu/images/2853-ssc2009-19c1-Artist-s-Rendering-of-Saturn-s-Infrared-Ring

Curator: Spitzer Space Telescope, Pasadena, CA, USA

Image Use Policy: Public Domain

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Image Details

Image Type
Artwork
Object Name
Saturn
Subject - Solar System
Planet > Ring
Planet > Type > Gas Giant
Spitzer_ssc2009-19c1_1280
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ID
ssc2009-19c1
Subject Category
A.1.5.   A.1.1.2.  
Subject Name
Saturn
Credits
NASA/JPL-Caltech/R. Hurt (SSC)
Type
Artwork
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
Facility
Instrument
Color Assignment
Band
Bandpass
Central Wavelength
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
Equinox
Reference Value
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
Spitzer Space Telescope
URL
http://www.spitzer.caltech.edu
Name
Email
Telephone
Address
1200 E. California Blvd.
City
Pasadena
State/Province
CA
Postal Code
91125
Country
USA
Rights
Public Domain
Publisher
Spitzer Science Center
Publisher ID
spitzer
Resource ID
ssc2009-19c1.tif
Metadata Date
2011-09-02
Metadata Version
1.1
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