Uranus (NIRCam Image)

Stsci_2023-117b_1024

stsci_2023-117b April 6th, 2023

Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; image processing: J. DePasquale (STScI)

This zoomed-in image of Uranus, captured by Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) Feb. 6, 2023, reveals stunning views of the planet’s rings. The planet displays a blue hue in this representative-color image, made by combining data from two filters (F140M, F300M) at 1.4 and 3.0 microns, which are shown here as blue and orange, respectively.

On the right side of the planet there’s an area of brightening at the pole facing the Sun, known as a polar cap. This polar cap is unique to Uranus because it is the only planet in the solar system tilted on its side, which causes its extreme seasons. A new aspect of the polar cap revealed by Webb is a subtle brightening near the Uranian north pole.

At the edge of the polar cap lies a bright cloud as well as a few fainter extended features just northward of the cap’s edge, and a second very bright cloud is seen at the planet’s left limb. Such clouds are typical for Uranus in infrared wavelengths, and likely are connected to storm activity.

Provider: Space Telescope Science Institute

Image Source: https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2023/news-2023-117

Curator: STScI, Baltimore, MD, USA

Image Use Policy: http://stsci.edu/copyright/

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Image Details

Image Type
Observation
Object Name
Uranus
Subject - Solar System
Planet > Type > Gas Giant

Distance

Position Details

Position (ICRS)
RA = 2h 49m 17.3s
DEC = 15° 55’ 7.7”
Constellation
Aries

Color Mapping

  Telescope Spectral Band Wavelength
Cyan Webb (NIRCam) Infrared (1400) -
Orange Webb (NIRCam) Infrared (3000) -
Stsci_2023-117b_1280
×
ID
2023-117b
Subject Category
A.1.1.2  
Subject Name
Uranus
Credits
NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI; image processing: J. DePasquale (STScI)
Release Date
2023-04-06
Lightyears
0.000323
Redshift
0.000323
Reference Url
https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2023/news-2023-117
Type
Observation
Image Quality
Good
Distance Notes
distance given in light-years; distance to Uranus is 1.8988 billion miles
Facility
Webb, Webb
Instrument
NIRCam, NIRCam
Color Assignment
Cyan, Orange
Band
Infrared, Infrared
Bandpass
1400, 3000
Central Wavelength
Start Time
Integration Time
Dataset ID
Notes
Coordinate Frame
ICRS
Equinox
Reference Value
42.32218781845048, 15.91880721080015
Reference Dimension
Reference Pixel
Scale
Rotation
Coordinate System Projection:
Quality
Position
FITS Header
Notes
Creator (Curator)
STScI
URL
http://stsci.edu
Name
Space Telescope Science Institute Office of Public Outreach
Email
outreach@stsci.edu
Telephone
410-338-4444
Address
3700 San Martin Drive
City
Baltimore
State/Province
MD
Postal Code
21218
Country
USA
Rights
http://stsci.edu/copyright/
Publisher
STScI
Publisher ID
stsci
Resource ID
STSCI-J-p23117b-f-1268x1268.tif
Metadata Date
2023-04-05T10:44:44-04:00
Metadata Version
1.2
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Detailed color mapping information coming soon...

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There is no distance meta data in this image.

 

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