The James Webb telescope captured images of the farthest planet in the solar system,Neptune, where seven of its 14 moons can be seen.

Neptune, discovered in 1846, is thirty times farther from the Sun than Earth and orbits in one of the darkest parts of the solar system.

Neptune appears with a new image thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope, which has captured the clearest view of its rings in more than thirty years and seven of its numerous moons.

The infrared vision of the new telescope reveals this icy giant in a totally new light, says in a note the European Space Agency (ESA), which participates in James Webb together with the American NASA and the Canadian CSA.

The images give a clear view of its rings, some previously unseen and others not seen in such detail since the Voyager 2 space probe came closest to the planet in 1989, and clearly show the fainter dust lanes surrounding the planet.

Neptune, discovered in 1846, is thirty times farther from the Sun than Earth and orbits in one of the darkest parts of the solar system. A noon there is similar to a dim twilight on Earth, reminds the ESA.

Webb also captured seven of Neptune's fourteen known moons, and the image shows a very bright point of light with the characteristic diffraction spikes seen in many telescope images, but it's not a star, it's the closest moon. unusual planet, Triton.

Covered in an icy sheen of condensed nitrogen, Triton reflects an average of 70% of incoming sunlight, far exceeding Neptune, because the planet's atmosphere is darkened by the absorption of methane at wavelengths by Webb

Triton has a strange retrograde orbit around Neptune, which has led astronomers to speculate that this moon was actually a Kuiper Belt object that was gravitationally captured by the planet.

Neptune is characterized as an ice giant due to the chemical composition of its interior, which is evident in the characteristic blue appearance of the images taken by the Hubble Space Telescope -predecessor of the James Webb- in visible wavelengths, caused by small amounts of gaseous methane.

In Webb's images, thanks to his near-infrared camera, Neptune does not appear blue. In addition, a thin line of brightness is observed surrounding the planet's equator, which could be a visual signature of the global atmospheric circulation that drives the planet's winds and storms.

Neptune's 164-year orbit means its north pole is just out of sight of astronomers, but Webb's images hint at "an intriguing glow in that area."

A previously known vortex at the south pole is evident in Webb's view, but for the first time it has revealed a continuous band of clouds surrounding it.

These new images provide an unprecedented view of Neptune’s dynamic atmosphere, furthering scientists’ understanding of the planet’s weather patterns and composition. The thin, bright line observed along Neptune’s equator could indicate a global circulation pattern that generates powerful winds and storms. This feature, which has not been as clearly visible in previous observations, suggests that Neptune’s atmosphere is more complex than previously thought.

Additionally, the James Webb Space Telescope’s advanced infrared imaging has revealed an intriguing glow near Neptune’s north pole, an area that remains largely unexplored due to the planet’s long orbital period. The presence of this glow raises new questions about the atmospheric processes occurring at high latitudes.

The newly observed continuous band of clouds around the planet’s south pole is another remarkable discovery. While a vortex in this region had been detected before, the ability to see these surrounding clouds in such detail is a first. This could provide insight into how Neptune’s polar weather systems interact with its overall climate.

Triton, Neptune’s largest moon, also stands out in the new images due to its high reflectivity. Unlike Neptune, which appears dark in Webb’s infrared view, Triton shines brightly, reflecting about 70% of the sunlight that reaches it. Its retrograde orbit remains one of the great mysteries of the outer solar system, supporting the theory that it was once a Kuiper Belt object captured by Neptune’s gravity rather than a moon that formed in place.

With these discoveries, Webb’s observations mark a new era in the study of Neptune and its moons, allowing scientists to analyze features that have remained hidden for decades. As astronomers continue to study these new images, they hope to uncover more about the planet’s atmospheric processes, its unusual moons, and the structure of its rings, paving the way for future missions that may explore Neptune and its system in even greater detail.

Referencias

European Space Agency. (2022). Webb captures the clearest view of Neptune’s rings in decades. ESA. https://www.esa.int

National Aeronautics and Space Administration. (2022). NASA’s Webb delivers new images of Neptune. NASA. https://www.nasa.gov

Canadian Space Agency. (2022). James Webb Space Telescope reveals Neptune in a new light. CSA. https://www.asc-csa.gc.ca

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