Capturing 11 rings and six moons, Webb Telescope's image of Uranus offers new insights into the ice giant's storm activity and composition.
The James Webb Space Telescope captured a stunning image of Uranus, revealing 11 of its 13 known rings and six of its 27 moons, providing insights into its storm activity and composition
Uranus' 27 moons are uniquely named after characters from the works of William Shakespeare and Alexander Pope, setting them apart from other planetary moons.
The ice giant Uranus has two sets of rings - narrow, dark grey inner rings and a blue outermost ring, similar to Saturn's E ring. Their composition and origin are still under research.
The James Webb Space Telescope's unparalleled sensitivity enabled the discovery of faint dusty rings and detailed features in Uranus' atmosphere, which were not visible with previous telescopes.
Uranus' interior is mainly composed of a hot, dense fluid of "icy" materials such as water, methane, and ammonia, with a small rocky core beneath.
Unique among planets, Uranus rotates on its side, leading to extreme seasons with years of constant sunlight followed by years of complete darkness.
The image of Uranus was captured during its late spring season at the northern pole, with summer expected to arrive in 2028.
The James Webb Space Telescope's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) provides unprecedented detail and sensitivity, offering new insights into ice giants like Uranus.
Voyager 2's 1986 flyby of Uranus provided essential information, but the James Webb Space Telescope's capabilities allow for a deeper understanding of the planet.
The new image of Uranus emphasizes the vast mysteries of the universe waiting to be uncovered and the ever-evolving advancements in technology enabling these discoveries.
Uranus Rings And Moons Captured By NASA’s JWST and excitingDiscoveries of Space.