The First True-Colour Photos Of Saturn's Polar Vortex Are Spectacular

It spans 1,200 miles.
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During its 12 year exploration of Saturn, NASA’s Cassini probe has returned some spectacular photography. Among the most striking photos are those of the planet’s polar vortex, a persistent hurricane at its north pole.

Now Sophia Nasr, an astro-particle physicist at UC Irvine, has created the first true colour images of the formation. Its cerulean centre comes from a scattering of sunlight, the same process that makes Earth’s sky blue.

Had to give #Saturn's polar vortex another go (was told about a luminance layer). And wow, what a difference! Taken by #Cassini Apr 26 2017. pic.twitter.com/xwXzNjOWID

— Sophia Nasr (@Pharaoness) April 29, 2017

Nasr produced the image by merging photographs taken using blue, green and red filters, with only a little extra tweaking of contrast, Discovery reported.

The astro-physicist isn’t alone in transforming Cassini’s black and white images into colour. Jason Major, a graphics designer, has also produced colour images of the gas giant’s polar vortex, which spans 1,200 miles.

Processed color composite of Saturn's north polar vortex from @CassiniSaturn's pass on April 26, 2017 pic.twitter.com/58pyMjKx42

— Jason Major (@JPMajor) April 28, 2017

Cassini’s 12-year journey is due to come to an end in September after it completes its final dive.

NASA scientists are set upon ditching the craft in Saturn’s atmosphere before it runs out of fuel, ensuring it won’t crash into one of the planet’s 53 moons.

It’s thought that Enceladus and Titan might harbour life, and a satellite from Earth poses a major contamination risk.

Raw photographs of Saturn's atmosphere.
Raw photographs of Saturn's atmosphere.
NASA/JPL-CALTECH/SSI
Raw photographs of Saturn's atmosphere.
Raw photographs of Saturn's atmosphere.
NASA/JPL-CALTECH/SSI
Raw photographs of Saturn's atmosphere.
Raw photographs of Saturn's atmosphere.
NASA/JPL-CALTECH/SSI
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