More Images: First X-rays From Uranus Discovered
X-ray & Infrared Images of Uranus
(Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXO/University College London/W. Dunn et al; Infrared (HRC): W.M. Keck Observatory); (VLT/HRC): ESO/VLT/Kirill Feigelman)
The first X-rays from Uranus have been captured by Chandra during observations obtained in 2002 and 2017, a discovery that may help scientists learn more about this ice giant planet. Researchers think most of the X-rays come from solar X-rays that scatter off the Uranus's atmosphere as well as its ring system. Some of the X-rays may also be from auroras on Uranus, a phenomenon that has previously been observed at other wavelengths. The top row shows, at left, a Uranus image with X-ray data from Chandra taken in 2002 and infrared data from the Keck telescope in Hawaii. The individual images are also shown. The second row shows, at left, a High Resolution Camera (HRC) Chandra image taken in 2017 with a likely X-ray flare, and Keck data, along with the two individual images. On the right is the Chandra HRC image combined with an optical image from the VLT taken simultaneously with the Chandra data.
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(March 31, 2021)