Scientists just observed Uranus with the most potent space telescope ever constructed.

 

Uranus, as imaged by the JWST's NIRCam. (NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/J. DePasquale)

We recently learned about what is conceivably the strangest object in the Solar System from an amazing new angle.

 

The mysterious Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, has come under the golden, infrared gaze of the James Webb Space Telescope, and the image it has returned shows the turquoise planet in all its glittering splendour. Moons, rings, everything.

 

Every planet and dwarf planet in the Solar System has unique characteristics that define them apart, but Uranus is very strange. At first sight, the chilly, gelid world appears to be quite uninteresting, but as you come closer, you notice that it is both weirder and more fascinating.

However, you need to go past the colours that our eyes can see, in which Uranus looks to be a featureless pale blue sphere. The physical characteristics of Uranus' weak, ice rings have been measured by scientists using thermal imaging, which uses radio and infrared wavelengths.

A zoomed-in view showing Uranus' spectacular, ethereal ring system. (NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/J. DePasquale)

The JWST space telescope is the most potent one ever launched, and it only sees the universe in infrared and near-infrared. Because of this, it is ideal for catching the extended glow of light that was emitted billions of years ago.

 

Thankfully, that infrared sensitivity can be used for more than only peering into far space to examine the universe's creation; it can also be used to examine objects close to home to shed light on the mysteries of our own Solar System. JWST has been scheduled to take a closer look since infrared wavelengths can provide a wealth of information about Uranus's internal workings.

 

The space telescope was able to resolve never-before-seen features despite the limited duration of only 12 minutes.

Uranus has an odd rotation that is turned over on its side in reference to its orbital plane, which you'll notice right away. Its polar seasons are therefore significantly dissimilar from those of the other planets. The poles of Uranus will experience total darkness in the winter and the full force of the Sun's brightness for the course of its 84-year orbit.

 

It was summertime on the south pole when Voyager 2 passed by Uranus in 1986; it is currently late spring on the north pole, with summer set to arrive in 2028.

Annotated image showing the polar cap and bright clouds in the Uranian atmosphere. (NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/J. DePasquale)

This indicates that the JWST was able to get an image of a phenomenon specific to Uranus: a polar brightening as the planet travels into the Sun's full summertime illumination. Scientists don't know what generates this dazzling polar cap, but they thought the JWST's unparalleled resolution would offer some fresh perspectives.

 

They were correct, too. The findings show a faint but distinct zone of heightened brightening at the polar cap's centre.

 

Scientists will be able to use this information as they thoroughly research the phenomenon even if we still don't know why it occurs.

Clouds, which are associated with storm activity in the ice giant's mostly hydrogen and helium atmosphere, are other bright structures visible in the photograph.

 

Although not nearly as well-known as Saturn's magnificent set of rings, Uranus only possesses a little over a dozen modest circlets. 11 of the 13 rings that are known to be around the planet were observed by the JWST, including the two inner, dusty rings that are so faint they weren't found until Voyager 2 passed by in 1986.

 

Scientists anticipate that future JWST observations will also be able to capture the two flimsy outer rings in addition to the main group.

Annotated image showing six of the moons of Uranus appearing in the JWST image. (NASA/ESA/CSA/STScI/J. DePasquale)

Finally, the telescope recorded many of Uranus' 27 known moons, but not all of them. Some are impossible to see. But the orbits of these moons are significantly dissimilar. The smaller, inner moons and the six moons shown in the image above all orbit Uranus in the same general direction. However, Uranus also contains a number of irregular moons that are much farther away and have inclined elliptical orbits, like Jupiter's irregular moons.

 

Understanding the specifics of these moons may help in deciphering the complex subject of how Uranus came to be the way it is.

Additional JWST observations of Uranus are either already underway or are planned. Let's hope they can assist researchers in establishing a strong case for launching a dedicated probe to this fascinating world.

Reference: sciencealert.com