First 33 years after James Webb: Neptune's rings clearly visualized
2First 33 years after James Webb: Neptune's rings clearly visualized
The James Webb telescope has imaged the rings of Neptune, the farthest planet in the Solar System, for the first time with infrared rays. Scientists stated that the clearest image of the planet has been recorded since 1989, and this provides a new perspective on Neptune's atmosphere.
FIRST TIME IN 33 YEARS
The James Webb space telescope captured a highly detailed image of the planet Neptune. Astronomers last imaged the farthest planet in the Solar System so clearly in 1989 with NASA's Voyager 2 probe.
Mark McCaughrean, senior adviser at the European Space Agency (ESA), said Webb's unprecedented infrared imaging capability provides new insight into Neptune's atmosphere.
McCaughrean, who has worked on the James Webb telescope project for more than 20 years, said in a statement on the subject, "James Web's infrared rays have removed the planet's glow and dusty background. Thus, we can now examine the atmospheric composition of the planet."
On the other hand, scientists had previously failed to look at Neptune's North Pole, as Neptune completes its orbit around the Sun in 164 years, when it is extremely far from Earth. However, the image from James Webb introduced researchers to this possibility.
NEPTUNE'S SATELLITE IS ALSO IN THE IMAGES
In addition, James Webbi detected seven of Neptune's 14 known moons. It was stated that the object seen in the photo, which looks like a bright thorny star on Neptune, is Neptune's moon Triton.
Triton, which is larger than the dwarf planet Pluto, appears brighter than Neptune because it is covered with light-reflecting ice. McCaughrean also said that Neptune "absorbs most of the light that falls on it."
ABOUT THE JAMES WEBB TELESCOPE
The most advanced space telescope to date, James Webb operates for NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency.
The telescope had previously taken the clearest pictures of Jupiter and the Phantom Galaxy.