The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has shared another stunning photo taken by the James Webb Space Telescope. This time, the photo features one of the ice giants found in the solar system.
Specifically, the new image features the planet Uranus and highlights its atmosphere as well as its rings. Yes, you read that right. Uranus does have rings, but we will get to that later.
First, let us talk about the image taken by the James Webb Space Telescope and what it shows us about the blue planet.
NASA Shares James Webb Space Telescope's Photo of Uranus
NASA says in its announcement that "The new image features dramatic rings as well as bright features in the planet's atmosphere." The James Webb Space Telescope's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) was used for the image, combining data from two filters at 1.4 and 3.0 microns, the space agency adds.
The announcement likewise notes that the the faint rings of Uranus have only been photographed two other times in the past. One was by the Voyager 2 spacecraft, while the other was by the Keck Observatory.
The image shows the northern pole of Uranus, which is currently in its late spring season. "It rotates on its side, at roughly a 90-degree angle from the plane of its orbit," explains NASA.
It adds that "This causes extreme seasons since the planet's poles experience many years of constant sunlight followed by an equal number of years of complete darkness." This means that the ice giant's northern pole will have to wait until 2028 for its summer season.
Uranus Does Have Rings
It may come as a surprise to many that the Uranus does have rings, especially those who thought only Saturn has them. In fact, ice giant has a total of 13 rings, according to NASA. The inner rings are discovered to be narrow and dark, while the outer ones are brighter. 11 of the 13 rings are visible in the image taken by the James Webb Space Telescope.
Another fact that many may not know is that Uranus has a total of 27 known moons. What is very cool about this is that its moons have been named after characters from the works of William Shakespeare as well as Alexander Pope. These include Oberon, Titania, and Umbriel.
James Webb Space Telescope
The new photo of Uranus is the latest addition to the list of stunning photos the James Webb Space Telescope has taken since it was launched on December 25, 2021.
Named after former NASA Administrator James E. Webb, the space telescope has also photographed another ice giant, Neptune, last year. It has also photographed a couple of nebulae since it's commissioning, including the Carina Nebula and Southern Ring Nebula.
