Saturn Image by NRAO's Very Large Array Telescope. Radio data show that Saturn is warmer than astronomers predicted. What is causing this extra heat? One idea is that Saturn is still contracting. As gas is compressed into a smaller volume, heat is produced. |
Sure does!While optical photographs show reflected sunlight from Saturn's atmosphere and rings, this radio image shows actual emission from Saturn. Note that the rings are dim. Where the rings cross the planet, they absorb the radiation from the bright disk behind. |