The new face of Saturn revealed through space telescope collaboration

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has released the most detailed image of Saturn ever by combining observation data from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) and the Hubble Space Telescope. This image is considered the first to identify the three-dimensional structure of Saturn's atmosphere by integrating infrared, visible light, and ultraviolet light into one multi-layer image.

A NASA official explained, "Using the two telescopes together, we can 'cut' Saturn's atmosphere at different altitudes, like peeling an onion. Each telescope tells a different story of Saturn, and when put together, we can understand how Saturn's atmosphere operates as a connected three-dimensional system."

Different Saturn captured by two telescopes

In August 2024, the Hubble Telescope photographed Saturn's cloud bands and atmospheric changes in clear visible light as part of the 'Exoplanet Atmospheric Legacy (OPAL)' program. About 14 weeks later, the Webb Telescope conducted infrared observations that revealed hidden thermal patterns and structures beneath the upper clouds.

Infrared observations from the Webb Telescope have revealed new discoveries of a meandering jet stream in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere, possible auroral activity, and several scattered storms across the Southern Hemisphere. Hubble's visible light images showed gently banded atmosphere, while Webb's infrared images showed additional structures in the deeper layers of the atmosphere.

Saturn's rings also showed complementary images in both telescopes. The rings of water ice appear as bright, distinct structures in Hubble's reflected light, and shine even more clearly in the Webb's infrared light, revealing detailed structures of the ring system. The structure of the ring's 'spokes' and thick central region, as well as subtle differences in the outer ring, were also confirmed through comparison of the two telescopes.

Achievements achieved through long-term observation over 10 years

This observation was made as Saturn moves from the northern hemisphere summer toward the spring equinox in 2025. Saturn's seasons last about seven Earth years, and this long-term seasonal cycle provides important context for interpreting changes in the atmosphere and rings.

Hubble's OPAL program has tracked changes in exoplanets for more than a decade, and new observations from the Webb Telescope add a multiwavelength perspective to this dataset, allowing for a broader understanding.

“By combining Webb’s infrared sensitivity with Hubble’s long-term visible light record, we can build a much more complete picture of planetary behavior than is possible from any one telescope alone,” NASA said. This achievement is evaluated as an example that once again proves the potential of multi-observatory collaboration in planetary science research.