New discovery about Saturn's northern lights

An astronomer is set to use the most powerful telescope ever created to get a "game-changing" view of Saturn's northern lights. Dr James O’Donoghue from the University of Reading is part of a team that has been awarded time with the James Webb Telescope (JWST). They hope to work out what is causing the planet's northern lights and will also observe Uranus. Dr Henrik Melin, who is from the University of Leicester School of Physics and leading the research team, said it could "fundamentally shape our understanding" of both planets.

Northern lights are generally caused by highly energetic charged particles, which are funnelled down and collide with a planet's atmosphere via the planet's magnetic field.