James Webb telescope spots giant auroras rolling through Uranus' atmosphere

Astronomers capture first images of aurora on Uranus using powerful telescope

Scientists have been able to peer into Uranus’ upper atmosphere for the first time thanks to the help of the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) - and have documented the icy giant’s own version of the Northern Lights. The JWST observed the planet rotating for 15 hours, nearly one Uranian day, and discovered that its magnetic pole is tilted by 60 degrees. They also found out that the planet’s upper atmosphere is full of ions. On Earth, when charge…

Researchers Map Uranus’ Atmosphere in Stunning Detail

Uranus is a peculiar planet. Even though it’s not the farthest planet from the sun, it’s still the coldest one in our solar system, with no apparent internal heat source. It’s also wildly off-kilter, rotating backward on its side (possibly due to a massive ancient collision), which gives it extreme seasons that last 21 years and a magnetosphere that’s not aligned with its rotational axis. Throw in several faint rings encircling it, and you can s…

Webb Maps Uranus’ Upper Atmosphere and Finds a Magnetic Surprise

Webb just revealed Uranus’s upper atmosphere in 3D, exposing wild auroras and a planet that is still cooling. Astronomers have produced the first detailed map showing how Uranus’s upper atmosphere is layered from bottom to top. The international team tracked how temperatures and electrically charged particles change with altitude, offering a clearer picture of conditions [...]

James Webb telescope spots giant auroras rolling through Uranus' atmosphere

JWST observed Uranus for nearly a full rotation, charting the planet's upper atmosphere and magnetic environment for the first time.

NASA's Webb telescope unveils details about strange auroras on Uranus

If you think auroras on Earth are a strange and mesmerizing sight, that's nothing like what occurs on the perplexing world of Uranus.

The James Webb Space Telescope just mapped Uranus for nearly a full day, and the auroras it found are unlike anything on Earth

The James Webb Space Telescope has mapped the upper atmosphere of Uranus for the first time, revealing new detail about the planet’s unusual auroras and magnetic field. The findings were reported by Live Science, based on observations and a new paper describing the results. JWST observed Uranus for about 15 hours in January 2025, close to a full Uranian day. Scientists used the data to study how the planet distributes energy in its upper atmosph…