Yes, this is a real image of Saturn.
NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope captured a new, exceptionally sharp image of the ringed gas giant in early July, and the space agency released the image of the planet on Thursday.
“The sharp view of Hubble solves the structure of the finely etched concentric ring,” NASA wrote, noting that the rings are made up of chunks of ice “ranging from small grains to giant rocks.”
Hubble orbits about 340 miles above Earth, and the telescope captured this detailed view of Saturn as the planet orbited. 839 million miles from the earth.
Saturn
Image: NASA / ESA / A. SIMON (GODDARD SPACE FLIGHT CENTER) / MH WONG (UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY) / OPAL TEAM
Sharp images of the gas giant allow planetary scientists to observe the planet’s changing atmosphere. For example, NASA researchers detected a “slight reddish haze” over Saturn’s north polar region, possibly indicating a change in the atmosphere or warming of the sun.
“It is surprising that even in a few years, we are seeing seasonal changes on Saturn,” said Amy Simon, a planetary scientist at NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, in a statement.
Amidst the black background of space, Hubble also captured two of Saturn’s 53 confirmed moons: the Ice-sprinkling Enceladus below and the Death Star-like Mimas on the right.
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