Saturn Reflecting the Spectrum: Results

Saturn's rings glow in the infrared as ice particles reflect these 'heat rays' from the Sun.  The main body of the planet appears dark showing that the clouds contain little ice.

Bathed in ultraviolet light from the Sun, the ice in the rings absorb the radiation whilst the gases in the planet's atmosphere reflects it.

Combined with an exposure from the visible spectrum, Saturn appears majestic in false colours.    To the human eye at a telescope the ringed planet is seen in yellow hues.  If we could see in infrared and ultraviolet as well, Saturn would appear in a colour contrast similar to this image.