NASA Scientists Capture Rare Image Of Uranus' Rings

NASA Scientists Capture Rare Image Of Uranus' Rings

Since NASA launched its James Webb Telescope back in December 2021, incredible images and discoveries have been shared with the public.

The telescope's strength allows it to capture space photographs at never-before-seen clarity, and now, Uranus has gotten in on the fun.

According to a press release, scientists used the James Webb Telescope to photograph the ice giant planet in a way that's never been done before.

The press release said, "The new image features dramatic rings as well as bright features in the planet’s atmosphere."

NASA shared the photo on its NASA Webb Telescope Twitter account, with the caption:

"Uranus has never looked better. Really.

Only Voyager 2 and Keck (with adaptive optics) have imaged the planet's faintest rings before, and never as clearly as Webb's first glimpse at this ice giant, which also highlights bright atmospheric features."

https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1643979291674419200/

In a follow-up tweet, NASA pointed out the "polar cap (bright white area) on the right side" of the photo.

They said, "Webb reveals, for the first time, a subtle enhanced brightening at its center. This polar cap appears in the direct sunlight of summer and vanishes in the fall. Webb's data will help us to understand this mystery."

https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1643979312553672705

They also used an exposure image to show the moons around Uranus.

"Uranus has 27 known moons. Most are too small and faint to see, but the 6 brightest are labeled in this wide-view. (The other bright objects are background galaxies.) This was only a 12-minute exposure image! It's just the tip of the ice(planet)berg for what Webb will uncover," NASA Webb Telescope tweeted.

https://twitter.com/NASAWebb/status/1643979562391592962

Referring to the discovers, NASA said in its press release: "It is just the tip of the iceberg of what Webb can do when observing this mysterious planet."

It'll be interesting to see what researchers learn next as technology continues to develop.

Malorie Thompson

Malorie works as a writer and editor in Northern California. She's passionate about food, conscious living, animal welfare, and conservation. She's worked with a variety of publications in different sectors but is happiest covering topics close to her heart. When not at her laptop, Malorie can be found enjoying picnics on the beach, hiking in the redwoods, and spending time with her rescue pup, Jax.

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