Is this Saturn photo real or an artist's rendition?

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the authenticity of a photograph of Saturn, questioning whether it is a genuine image captured by a spacecraft or an artist's rendition. Participants explore aspects of image processing, the characteristics of astronomical photography, and the expectations of viewers regarding such images.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Technical explanation
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express skepticism about the photo's authenticity, noting its uniform appearance and suggesting it looks drawn.
  • Others argue that the image appears genuine, indicating it likely comes from a space probe rather than an Earth telescope, citing well-defined features and graininess.
  • There is speculation about digital post-processing, with some participants suggesting that techniques like sharpening and contrast adjustments may have been applied to enhance the image.
  • One participant mentions that the image is not a raw capture, implying that various processing techniques, such as dark frame subtraction and image composition, are typically used in astronomical photography.
  • Concerns are raised about the potential for disappointment among novice astronomers who may expect to see similar clarity in their own observations as depicted in processed images.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants do not reach a consensus on the photo's authenticity, with multiple competing views regarding its processing and representation. Some agree it is likely a processed image, while others maintain it looks real.

Contextual Notes

Participants acknowledge the complexities of astronomical imaging, including the effects of cosmic rays and the necessity of image processing techniques, but do not resolve the specifics of the photo in question.

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My guess is that probably there is some sort of digital post processing of the photo but I might be wrong and it could be the raw image, I don't have big experience on astronomical photos.
 
Looks genuine to me!
It looks like it was taken from a space probe, not an Earth telescope.
It has well defined stripes and if you zoom in it's grainy, as you would expect.
 
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From your own link:
"The image was taken in visible light with the Cassini spacecraft wide-angle camera on Sept. 24, 2016."
 
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larry909 said:
It's hard to beleive, it looks so uniform and like it was drawn.

as the last two posters said ... it's real

Al_ said:
It looks like it was taken from a space probe, not an Earth telescope.

it does say that :wink:
 
Yea it just looks so unreal [emoji50]
 
larry909 said:
Yea it just looks so unreal [emoji50]

the universe is an amazing place with many wonders to behold :smile:
 
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larry909 said:
Yea it just looks so unreal [emoji50]
I believe it's pretty common to add 'sharpening' to such pictures. That could account for the apparent extra resolution. Excessive sharpening of very common on the images (ordinary photos) in newspapers and magazines, to make up for the limited resolution of cheaper printing. It's something that can be done on pictures before they are reduced to JPEG, which can give some horrible effects.
 
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Delta² said:
My guess is that probably there is some sort of digital post processing of the photo but I might be wrong and it could be the raw image, I don't have big experience on astronomical photos.

That's definitely not a raw image. It's almost certainly had various image processing techniques (like dark frame subtraction) applied and the contrast and brightness has been changed to make all the details visible. It may have even been made by a composition of multiple images. Space telescopes and probes operate in very adverse conditions, with cosmic rays and other particles frequently impacting the sensor. Using multiple images allows you to filter out the noise generated by these events without losing the details of the object.
 
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  • #10
Drakkith said:
That's definitely not a raw image.
Yes but you could regard it as a way of presenting relevant information whilst reducing spurious effects. The same could be said of more or less any astronomical picture that's published. The blurred thing they started off with wouldn't appeal to anyone. Perhaps a health warning should be required for such images. They can be a source of deep disappointment for newbie astronomers who think that the pictures on the adverts for the scope they just bought were what they could expect to see with it.
 
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