New Hubble Photos of Uranus

Universe Today ^ | 1.22.04 | Universe Today

[ambrose]

New Hubble Photos of Uranus and Neptune Jan 22, 2004 - Image credit: Hubble Atmospheric features on Uranus and Neptune are revealed in images taken with the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph and the Advanced Camera for Surveys aboard NASA's Hubble Space Telescope. The observations were taken in August 2003. The top row reveals Uranus and Neptune in natural colors, showing the planets as they would appear if we could see them through a telescope. The images are made of exposures taken with filters sensitive to red, green, and blue light. In the bottom images, astronomers used different color filters to detect features we can't see. The photographs demonstrate that, by using certain types of color filters, astronomers can extract more information about a celestial object than our eyes normally can see. At first glance, the top row of images makes the planets appear like twins. But the bottom row reveals that Uranus and Neptune are two different worlds. Uranus's rotational axis, for example, is tilted almost 90 degrees to Neptune's axis. The south poles of Uranus and Neptune are at the left and bottom, respectively. Both are tilted slightly toward Earth. Uranus also displays more contrast between both hemispheres. This may be caused by its extreme seasons. Both planets display a banding structure of clouds and hazes aligned parallel to the equator. Additionally, a few discrete cloud features appear bright orange or red. The color is due to methane absorption in the red part of the spectrum. Methane is third in abundance in the atmospheres of Uranus and Neptune after hydrogen and helium, which are both transparent. Colors in the bands correspond to variations in the altitude and thickness of hazes and clouds. The colors allow scientists to measure the altitudes of clouds from far away. Original Source: Hubble News Release

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[SouthernFreebird]

WOW.....Uranus is pretty.

[reagan_fanatic]

must...restrain...impulse...to...crack...jokes....pfffttt...

[nobody_knows]

Only after I eat burritos.

[fishtank]

I've heard that, on a clear night, you can see the moon over Uranus.

[WayneM]

I don't know, but I believe I can see the Enterprise.

To my credit I REALLY did try to resist all of this.

[demlosers]

I think they should use Hubble to shoot the moon - really!

[Solson]

Web Hubbell's Anus?

I thought it looked like Chelsea...

[billorites]

"Klingons!"

[evets]

Ass-teroids?

[Unmarked Package]

"Uranus's rotational axis, for example, is tilted almost 90 degrees to Neptune's axis."

I assume it's more comfortable in this position?

[demlosers]

WOW.....Uranus is pretty.

And it's pink on the inside.

Take another look :)

[Lurking in Kansas]

Are you’re sure those are pictures of Uranus?

[WayneM]

Just to satisfy my curiosity...

When was the official pronunciation changed from "youranus" to "urineous"?

My own kids will never know the joy of having their teacher struggle with the humor of it all.

[Mr. Lucky]

That could be a result of heat rash.

[Lurking in Kansas]

you're = you

D'oh

[nobody_knows]

First Mars...THEN...Uranus! Who'll plant the flag though?

[newgeezer]

LOL {ping}

[semaj]

I thought there was supposed to be a picture of my anus?

[evets]

"Methane is third in abundance in the atmospheres of Uranus " (who knew?) btw - What is that ring of debris around Uranus?

[dfwgator]

"Uranus's rotational axis, for example, is tilted almost 90 degrees to Neptune's axis."

I'd hate to be "downwind."