Saturn and Dione

In this magnificent view, delicate haze layers high in the atmosphere encircle the oblate figure of Saturn. A special combination of spectral filters used for this image makes the high haze become visible. A methane-sensitive filter (centered at 889 nnmts) makes high altitude features stand out, while a polarizing filter makes small haze particles appear bright.
Methane in the atmosphere absorbs light with wavelengths around 889 nnmts as it travels deeper into the Gas Planet, thus bright areas in this image must represent reflective material at higher altitudes.
Small particles or individual molecules scatter light quite effectively to a polarization of 90°, which this polarizing filter is sensitive to. Thus, high altitude haze layers appear bright in this view.
The small blob of light at far right is Dione.

The image was taken with the Cassini spacecraft wide-angle camera on Dec. 5, 2005, at a distance of approx. 2,9 MKM (1,8 MMs) from Saturn and at a phase angle of 100°. The image scale is 169 Km per pixel.