Huge storm on Saturn observed by ESO's Very Large Telescope

Thermal infrared images of Saturn from the VISIR instrument on ESO’s VLT (centre and right) and an amateur visible-light image (left) from Trevor Barry (Broken Hill, Australia) obtained on 19 January 2011 during the mature phase of the northern storm. The second image is taken at a wavelength that reveals the structures in Saturn’s lower atmosphere, showing the churning storm clouds and the central cooler vortex. The third image is sensitive to much higher altitudes in Saturn’s normally peaceful stratosphere, where we see the unexpected beacons of infrared emission flanking the central cool region over the storm.

Crediti:

ESO/University of Oxford/L. N. Fletcher/T. Barry

Riguardo l'immagine

Identificazione:eso1116a
Tipo:Osservazione
Data di rilascio:Giovedì 19 Maggio 2011 20:00
Notizie relative:eso1116
Grandezza:1198 x 774 px

Riguardo all'oggetto

Nome:Saturn
Tipo:Solar System : Planet : Type : Gas Giant
Solar System : Planet : Feature : Atmosphere : Storm
Categoria:Solar System

Formati delle immagini

JPEG grande
92,7 KB

Colori e filtri

BandaLunghezza d'ondaTelescopio
Infrarosso
Mid-IR
8.6 μmVery Large Telescope
VISIR
Infrarosso
Mid-IR
18 μmVery Large Telescope
VISIR