Out of the blue, Saturn reveals its true colours (stunning photo)

The Australian ^ | February 10, 2005 | Leigh Dayton, Science writer

[justshutupandtakeit]

Baloney.

[sam_paine]

So the images that I've seen for 30 years of an orangish Saturn (from ground telescopes and Voyager) are false and the new enhanced blue images are correct.

[Born to Conserve]

"Appears yellowish in my 12.5" dob as well.
Makes you wonder if they really did get the color right."

From the article:
"The images were taken using a combination of infrared, green and ultraviolet filters.
The imaging experts then adjusted the colours to match what the scene would look like in natural colour. "

I think it is safe to say they did not get the colors right.

[A Ruckus of Dogs]

The Lord of the Rings

[sheik yerbouty]

That's funny. It doesn't look bluish..

[linuxnut]

...and the big yellow one is the Sun!

[UCANSEE2]

Remember, the Cassini took pictures from space, and your telescope is receiving the light through OUR ATMOSPHERE, which tints it.

[patriot_wes]

Given this.....When transmitted light such as sunlight enters our atmosphere it collides with the oxygen and nitrogen atoms. The color with the shorter wavelength is scattered more by this collision. Because violet and blue are the shortest wavelengths the sky appears to be violet / blue. But because our eyes are more sensitive to blue light than they are violet light, we perceive the sky as blue.

Therefore what is the explanation for the blue appearance in this photo? A conspiracy?

[Rebelbase]

"Besides being a cool photo, it demonstrates how enormous saturn is, since it was taken nearly 900,000 miles away."

Contrast to a photo of the earth taken from about 380,000 miles away.

[smiley]

OOOOOOOOOOO......AAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHH

[mlc9852]

Can't we just enjoy a beautiful picture?

[sam_paine]

I see a face.

[Professional Engineer]

FANTASTIC!

[Jeremiah Jr]

Exodus 24:9 Then went up Moses, and Aaron, Nadab, and Abihu, and seventy of the elders of Israel:

10 And they saw the God of Israel: and there was under his feet as it were a paved work of a sapphire stone, and as it were the body of heaven in his clearness.

11 And upon the nobles of the children of Israel he laid not his hand: also they saw God, and did eat and drink.

[RightWhale]

This is an excellent opportunity to reinforce our meagre knowledge of science. If some wish to reinforce some other aesthetic, that is their call.

[Major_Risktaker]

I guess this poster
needs to be updated.

[PeaceBeWithYou]

High resolution from HST(Hubble Space Telescope)

[muir_redwoods]

wow!!

[Gumption]

BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO,
HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS! (While flinging tomato's at you)
Get off the stage ya bum!!

giggle

[WestVirginiaRebel]

Maybe it's just sad and lonely...