![]() More subtly, a thin line of brightness circling the planet’s equator could be a visual signature of global atmospheric circulation that powers Neptune’s winds and storms. Images from other observatories have recorded these rapidly-evolving cloud features over the years. Such methane-ice clouds are prominent as bright streaks and spots, which reflect sunlight before it is absorbed by methane gas. ![]() In fact, the methane gas is so strongly absorbing that the planet is quite dark at Webb wavelengths except where high-altitude clouds are present. Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) captures objects in the near-infrared range from 0.6 to 5 microns, so Neptune does not appear blue to Webb. This is readily apparent in Neptune’s signature blue appearance in NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope images at visible wavelengths, caused by small amounts of gaseous methane. ![]() Compared to the gas giants, Jupiter and Saturn, Neptune is much richer in elements heavier than hydrogen and helium. This planet is characterised as an ice giant due to the chemical make-up of its interior. At that extreme distance, the Sun is so small and faint that high noon on Neptune is similar to a dim twilight on Earth. Located 30 times farther from the Sun than Earth, Neptune orbits in one of the dimmest areas of our Solar System. Neptune has fascinated and perplexed researchers since its discovery in 1846. Webb’s extremely stable and precise image quality also permits these very faint rings to be detected so close to Neptune. In addition to several bright narrow rings, the Webb images clearly show Neptune’s fainter dust bands. Most striking about Webb’s new image is the crisp view of the planet’s dynamic rings - some of which haven’t been seen at all, let alone with this clarity, since the Voyager 2 flyby in 1989. Not only has Webb captured the clearest view of this peculiar planet’s rings in more than 30 years, but its cameras are also revealing the ice giant in a whole new light. The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope is showing off its capabilities closer to home with its first image of Neptune.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |