The initial near-infrared observations by James Webb of our solar system’s second-largest planet also reveal some notable moons: Dione, Enceladus, and Tethys. In the images, Saturn appears darker than you might expect, but that is actually due to the infrared wavelength effect used to observe celestial objects, as methane gas absorbs almost all sunlight that enters its atmosphere.
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On the other hand, Saturn’s icy rings, which do not contain methane gas, truly stand out, providing us with a unique perspective on the sixth planet in our solar system. James Webb has recently “shifted its focus” to Saturn as part of its current test to explore its capabilities in detecting faint moons around the planet and the planet’s bright rings.
The initial results are promising, with previously unknown details captured within Saturn’s ring system. NASA states that further exposures will allow researchers to better analyze some of Saturn’s fainter rings, including rock and ice particles ranging in size from “smaller than a grain of sand to larger than mountains on Earth.”
Over the past decades, Saturn has been observed by other missions such as NASA’s Pioneer 11, Voyager 1 and Voyager 2, the Cassini spacecraft, and the Hubble Space Telescope. However, by utilizing advanced near-infrared camera systems, the powerful James Webb telescope has begun to send back stunning images of unexplored deep space, providing researchers with an excellent opportunity to deepen their understanding of this planet and potentially discover new features and characteristics in the years to come.