Hubble Snaps Saturn With Rings Edge-On

[n2doc]

Feb. 11, 2010 -- Stunning global views of Saturn show aurora duets at the planet's poles, though the light shows are not of equal caliber.

Analysis of the images, taken by the Hubble Space Telescope, indicate magnetic fields in Saturn's northern hemisphere are stronger than those in the south. Scientists don't know why.

With Saturn at equinox -- with roughly equal amounts of sunlight falling on its northern and southern hemispheres -- and its rings edge-on toward Earth, scientists used the Hubble's ultraviolet camera to get a simultaneous look at the planet's poles.

Since the planet's magnetic fields are closely aligned with Saturn's rotational axis, scientists had expected the aurora to be the same. Like on Earth, aurora are caused when electrically charged particles from the sun become trapped in a planet's magnetic fields, causing atoms in the atmosphere to heat up and glow. The phenomenon is most apparent around the poles where magnetic fields are strongest.

more:

http://news.discovery.com/space/big-pic-saturn-hubble-view.html

[alstephenson]

1. Cool!!!

[avaistheone1]

2. I love Hubble photos.

Thanks.



:loveya:

[pleah]

3. Wow! That's a beautiful picture! n/t

[n2doc]

4. Cool video of it

http://news.discovery.com/videos/space-hubble-captures-saturns-aurorae.html