@hubbleesa

Hubble helps explain why Uranus and Neptune are different colours. Using observations from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope, as well as @geminiobs & the NASA Infrared Telescope Facility, researchers have developed a single atmospheric model that matches observations of both planets. 👉 The model reveals that excess haze on Uranus builds up in the planet’s stagnant, sluggish atmosphere and makes it appear a lighter tone than Neptune. 👉 Neptune and Uranus have much in common — similar masses, sizes, and atmospheric compositions — yet their appearances are notably different. Astronomers now have an explanation for why the two planets are different colours. 👉 New research suggests that a layer of concentrated haze that is present on both planets is thicker on Uranus than on Neptune and therefore ‘whitens’ Uranus’s appearance more than Neptune’s. In its absence, both would appear almost equally blue. 👉 “This is the first model to simultaneously fit observations of reflected sunlight from ultraviolet to near-infrared wavelengths,” said lead author Patrick Irwin, Professor of Planetary Physics at @oxford_uni . 👉 The team’s model consists of three layers of aerosols at different heights. The key layer that affects the colours is the middle layer, which is a layer of haze particles that is thicker on Uranus than on Neptune. 👉 To create this model, Irwin’s team analysed archival data spanning several years from Hubble Image credit: NASA / @europeanspaceagency A. Simon ( @nasagoddard ), and M. H. Wong ( @ucberkeleyofficial ) and the OPAL team For more information check the link in bio. . . . #uranus #neptune #colours #atmosphere #cosmos #universe #astronomy #science #space #NASA #ESA #Hubble #Space #Telescope #photogram #spaceisbeautiful #neverstopexploring #instaspace