From: user@host.net   
      
   I have a question and I hope its not too silly.   
      
   Are there standard (optical) cameras on space probes, and, if so, how do   
   they see the planets?   
      
   OK, like I said, its silly.  I know that there are all sorts of   
   infra-red/etc instruments on spacecraft that pick up all kinds of radiated   
   materials from a planet.  But some of the still photos I've seen appear to   
   be plain old regular photos.  What I want to know is, if this is the case,   
   where does the light come from?  I mean, when taking pictures of Uranus, for   
   example, is there really enough light from the sun to fully illuminate the   
   surface?  Or does the aperature on the camera stay open for long periods of   
   time to collect a lot of light?  Or do the atmospheres of the planets   
   themselves give off some sort of illumination?   
      
   Don't laugh.  I really am curious!   
      
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