Saturn After Equinox (APOD 2009 Nov 10)

[apodman]

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap091110.html

Didja see the groovy colors (exaggerated a little here)?

[neufer]

http://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/apod/ap091110.html

Didja see the groovy colors (exaggerated a little here)?

<<Saturn's celestial body atmosphere exhibits a banded pattern similar to Jupiter's (the nomenclature is the same), but Saturn's bands are much fainter and are also much wider near the equator. Saturn's finer cloud patterns were not observed until the Voyager flybys. Since then, however, Earth-based telescopy has improved to the point where regular observations can be made.

In recent images from the Cassini spacecraft, Saturn's northern hemisphere appears a bright blue, similar to Uranus, as can be seen in the image below. This blue color cannot currently be observed from Earth, because Saturn's rings are currently blocking its northern hemisphere. The color is most likely caused by Rayleigh scattering.

Saturn's northern hemisphere, as seen by Cassini.
Note the planet's blue appearance through the ring (shadow).
>>

[kovil]

Do I detect a first in this APOD?

<<" . . . bright features identified as spokes that are thought to be groups of very small electrically charged ice particles." >>

Mainstream admitting that there is 'electricity in space' !
But then they'll tell us, "Oh, we knew that all along." ! lol

(i noticed this in the early am of the day it posted, but didn't want to start the topic with it)

From Wikipedia: "Rayleigh scattering (named after the English physicist Lord Rayleigh) is the elastic scattering of light or other electromagnetic radiation by particles much smaller than the wavelength of the light, which may be individual atoms or molecules. It can occur when light travels in transparent solids and liquids, but is most prominently seen in gases. Rayleigh scattering is a function of the electric polarizability of the particles.
Rayleigh scattering of sunlight in clear atmosphere is the main reason why the sky is blue: Rayleigh and cloud-mediated scattering contribute to diffuse light (direct light being sunrays).
For scattering by particles similar to or larger than a wavelength, see Mie theory or discrete dipole approximation (they apply to the Rayleigh regime as well)."

Does this imply that Saturn's ring particles are electrically polarized ?
Meaning there is an electric field surrounding Saturn?

Oh, we knew that all along ! haha

[apodman]

Stay within your pay grade. Count the rings. Don't go as far as J.