Saturnian Aurora
Credit & Copyright: J. Trauger (JPL),
NASA
Explanation:
Girdling
the second largest planet in the Solar System,
Saturn's Rings
are one of the most spectacular sights for earthbound
telescopes.
This image from the orbiting
Hubble Space Telescope's STIS instrument,
offers a striking view of another kind of
ring around Saturn -
pole encircling rings of
ultraviolet aurora.
Towering more than 1,000 miles above
the cloud tops, these Saturnian auroral
displays are
analogous to Earth's.
Energetic charged particles in
the Solar Wind are
funneled by the planet's magnetic
field into polar regions
where they interact with atmospheric gases.
Following the ebb and flow of Saturn's aurora, researchers can
remotely explore the planet's atmosphere and magnetic field.
In this false color image, the dramatic red aurora identify emission
from atomic hydrogen, while the more concentrated white areas are
due to hydrogen molecules.
In 2004, NASA plans to begin making close-up studies
of the Saturnian system with
the Cassini Spacecraft.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
