See Uranus like NEVER before! Scientists capture 3D view of the planet

"Using NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, scientists observed the ice giant for nearly a full rotation, revealing the inner workings of its upper atmosphere for the first time. The team, led by Paola Tiranti from Northumbria University, mapped out the temperature and density of ions in the electrically-charged layer that sits 3,100 miles (5,000km) above the cloud tops."

"'With Webb's sensitivity, we can trace how energy moves upward through the planet's atmosphere and even see the influence of its lopsided magnetic field.' The JWST data revealed two bright auroral bands near the magnetic poles and a zone of low emission and ion density between them. According to researchers, this feature may be tied to the way Uranus's magnetic field directs charged particles, similar to observations made at Jupiter."

"The measurements revealed that temperatures peak between 1,864 miles (3,000km) and 2,485 miles (4,000km) above the cloud tops, whilst ion densities reach their maximum around 621 miles (1,000km). Analysis also confirmed that Uranus's upper atmosphere is still cooling, extending a trend that began in the early 1990s. The team measured an average temperature of around 426 kelvins - about 150°C - lower than values recorded by ground-based telescopes or previous spacecraft observations."

NASA's James Webb Space Telescope observed Uranus through nearly a full rotation and produced a three-dimensional view of its upper atmosphere. Temperature and ion density were mapped in the electrically charged layer about 3,100 miles (5,000 km) above the cloud tops. Observations detected two bright, lopsided auroral bands near the planet's magnetic poles, tilted by nearly 60 degrees and sweeping across the surface in complex patterns. A zone of low emission and ion density lies between the auroral bands, possibly caused by the magnetic field directing charged particles. Temperatures peak between 1,864 and 2,485 miles (3,000–4,000 km), ion densities peak near 621 miles (1,000 km), and average temperature measures around 426 K, indicating continued atmospheric cooling since the early 1990s.

Read at Mail Online