Astronomers have successfully captured direct shots of the Aurora image of Neptune for the first time with the help of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). It’s another interesting achievement made by science with the help of the James Webb telescope, which has been exploring vast unexplored space since its launch.
Neptuna Aurora Glow spotted by James Webb
Previously, the aurora-like phenomenon on Neptune was mere speculation. The event is known for happening on planets like Earth, Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus. The speculation arose thanks to some clues left by the “Voyager 2” probe during its brief flyby of Neptune. However, due to old technology, direct photos of Neptune’s aurora were almost impossible. This changed when the Webb telescope aimed its lens at the ice giant.
“It turns out that only with Webb’s near-infrared band sensitivity we can truly capture Neptune’s aurora activity” said Henrik Melin of the University of Northumbria in the UK. The scientist is impressed with the clarity given by the telescope’s shot. Merlin completed this work while conducting research at the University of Leicester.
The Intriguing Aurora and All the Info Acquired with the James Webb
Neptune’s auroras are different from those on Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn. Instead of appearing mostly at the poles, they show up at random places, like the planet’s mid-latitudes. Scientists believe this happens because of Neptune’s magnetic field. It is tilted at a sharp angle and is not centered on the planet. On Earth, the magnetic field is better aligned with its axis. As a result, this helps to attract direct solar wind particles to the poles. The process creates auroras in those regions.
Scientists also measured Neptune’s temperature for the first time since the Voyager 2 flyby in 1989. They found that its upper atmosphere has cooled by hundreds of degrees Celsius. In 2023, the temperature was just over half of what it was in 1989. This drop may explain why Neptune’s auroras are so hard to see. Warmer temperatures lead to more active particles and brighter auroras, while colder temperatures mean fewer energetic ions and dimmer auroras.
Astronomers will continue using the Webb Telescope to study Neptune, hoping to learn more about one of the Solar System’s most mysterious planets.
