James Webb took an ultra-detailed near-infrared photo of Saturn from 1.37 billion km away

Last month, the James Webb Space Telescope was used to observe Saturn. We have already published 'raw' photos of the sixth planet from the Sun. NASA recently showed processed images of the gas giant with its rings.

Here's What We Know

James Webb was able to photograph Saturn in the near-infrared (3.23 μm) for the first time. The photographs were taken by the space telescope while it is 1.37 billion km away from the planet.

The purpose of the observation, in particular, was to study Saturn's evolution. The James Webb Space Telescope was able to demonstrate its ability to see the faint moons of the sixth planet from the Sun.

The resulting photographs allow scientists to learn more about Saturn's rings and atmosphere. The rings stand out from the planet because of their high ice content and because the atmosphere absorbs infrared radiation.

It's summer in the northern hemisphere and winter in the southern hemisphere. For this reason, the upper part of Saturn is darker. It's also worth noting that the fluorescence of methane in the atmosphere creates a light fringe effect around the planet's disk.

Source: Science Daily