Science
James Webb Space Telescope Captures Strange Magnetic Forces Warping Uranus
Scientists have created the first three-dimensional map of Uranus's upper atmosphere using the James Webb Space Telescope, revealing how the planet's bizarre tilted magnetic field creates complex auroral patterns and drives atmospheric cooling. The 15-hour observation session captured faint molecular emissions up to 5,000 kilometers above the clouds.
Key Takeaways
- First-ever 3D map of Uranus's upper atmosphere created using JWST's NIRSpec instrument
- Uranus's magnetic field is tilted 59 degrees from its rotation axis — the strangest in the solar system
- Auroral patterns sweep across the planet in complex, shifting configurations unlike Earth's stable rings
- Upper atmosphere has continued cooling over 30 years, now averaging 426 kelvins
- 15-hour continuous observation tracked faint molecular emissions up to 5,000 km above the clouds
DE
DT Editorial AI··via sciencedaily.com