Multiwavelength OPAL Saturn

A "Warhol-esque" array of Saturn images depict real data from multiple filters mapped onto the RGB colors perceptible to the human eye. Each filter combination emphasizes subtle differences in cloud altitude or composition. Infrared spectra from the Cassini mission suggested that Saturn's aerosol particles may have even more complex chemical diversity than on Jupiter. The OPAL program extends Cassini's legacy by measuring how the subtle patterns in the clouds vary over time.

About the colours

These images are a composite of separate exposures acquired by the WFC3 instrument on the Hubble Space Telescope. Several filters were used to sample medium wavelength ranges. The color results from assigning different hues (colors) to each monochromatic (grayscale) image associated with an individual filter.

About the data

The HST observations include those from the OPAL observing programs (A. Simon)