Go Back   IceInSpace > IceInSpace > Website Feedback and FAQ
Register FAQ Calendar Today's Posts Search

Reply
 
Thread Tools Rate Thread
  #1  
Old 18-02-2005, 08:13 AM
iceman's Avatar
iceman (Mike)
Sir Post a Lot!

iceman is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
Saturn's Mysterious Auroras Explained

In some ways, the bright auroras at Saturn's poles are very similar to our own Northern/Southern lights here on Earth. But in other ways, they're very different, and it's a mystery that has been puzzling astronomers since they were first discovered 25 years ago. Saturn's auroras can brighten for days (compared to minutes here Earth), and can stay still while the planet rotates underneath. Now scientists have used observations from Hubble and the Cassini spacecraft to develop a new theory about how Saturn's magnetic field interacts with the solar wind to produce its unusual auroras.
Attached Thumbnails
Click for full-size image (2005-0217saturn-full.jpg)
24.7 KB142 views
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 18-02-2005, 03:40 PM
ving's Avatar
ving (David)
~Dust bunny breeder~

ving is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: The town of campbells
Posts: 12,359
i'd love to be observing saturn and see one of those!
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 19-02-2005, 12:10 AM
[1ponders]'s Avatar
[1ponders] (Paul)
Retired, damn no pension

[1ponders] is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: Obi Obi, Qld
Posts: 18,778
You're really getting the hang of that Dob now Mike
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 19-02-2005, 10:01 AM
vindictive666's Avatar
vindictive666 (John)
KeyboardNotFndPressAnyKey

vindictive666 is offline
 
Join Date: Nov 2004
Location: geraldton western australia
Posts: 1,184
mike awsome pictures

did you take them or ?
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 19-02-2005, 10:09 AM
iceman's Avatar
iceman (Mike)
Sir Post a Lot!

iceman is offline
 
Join Date: Sep 2004
Location: Gosford, NSW, Australia
Posts: 36,799
yeh I borrowed Bird's spaceship and snapped them out of the window
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 22-02-2005, 10:38 AM
MiG's Avatar
MiG
Registered User

MiG is offline
 
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Bentleigh, Melbourne
Posts: 246
Quote:
Originally posted by ving
i'd love to be observing saturn and see one of those!
IIRC, the auroras in those photos are not in the visible wavelengths, it's a composite image. Anyone care to verify this?
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 22-02-2005, 12:26 PM
silvinator's Avatar
silvinator
Lady Post-a-holic

silvinator is offline
 
Join Date: Dec 2004
Location: Canberra, ACT, Australia
Posts: 448
That's correct Mig, the news article actually states that the shots were in UV wavelengths, so no chance of viewing such pretty auroras for us. Well, at least not the way hubble sees them. I wonder if they do emit some sort of energy in visible light like Earth's auroras do.
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 22-02-2005, 12:55 PM
rumples riot
Who knows

rumples riot is offline
 
Join Date: Oct 2004
Location: Blackwood South Australia
Posts: 3,051
Magnificent shots and interesting how the aurora last for several days at a time. Perhaps this is brought on by the massive magnetic field and the total lack of any land mass to discharge the aurora?

Must read up on that.
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks


Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT +10. The time is now 08:05 AM.

Powered by vBulletin Version 3.8.7 | Copyright ©2000 - 2025, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Advertisement
Bintel
Advertisement