James Webb Space Telescope captures a fresh picture of Uranus, adding another ringed planet to its repertoire.
Uranus and 11 of its 13 known rings, as well as clouds, and the polar cap are visible in this image captured by JWST’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam).
On the right side of the planet, the polar cap is a region that exhibits a brightening effect, primarily on the side that faces the Sun. This phenomenon is unique to Uranus, because it is the only planet in the solar system tilted on its side, causing its unusual seasons.
Spot the presence of clouds, including a bright cloud located at the edge of the polar cap and several fainter extended features to its north. On the planet's left limb, a second, even brighter cloud is visible. These clouds are common in Uranus's atmosphere, and are thought to be linked to storm activity.
Only two other facilities - the Voyager 2 spacecraft during its flyby of the planet in 1986, and the Keck Observatory using advanced adaptive optics - have been able to capture images of these rings.
📸 : NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI, J. DePasquale (STScI)
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