![]() ![]() However, scientists are less certain about what causes auroras on Uranus. The X-rays from auroras on Jupiter come from two sources: electrons traveling down magnetic field lines, as on Earth, and positively charged atoms and molecules raining down at Jupiter's polar regions. X-rays are emitted in Earth's auroras, produced by energetic electrons after they travel down the planet's magnetic field lines to its poles and are slowed down by the atmosphere. On Earth, we can see colorful light shows in the sky called auroras, which happen when high-energy particles interact with the atmosphere. Another possibility is that at least some of the X-rays come from auroras on Uranus, a phenomenon that has previously been observed on this planet at other wavelengths. If these energetic particles collide with the rings, they could cause the rings to glow in X-rays. Uranus is surrounded by charged particles such as electrons and protons in its nearby space environment. One possibility is that the rings of Uranus are producing X-rays themselves, which is the case for Saturn's rings. If further observations confirm this, it could have intriguing implications for understanding Uranus. While the authors of the new Uranus study initially expected that most of the X-rays detected would also be from scattering, there are tantalizing hints that at least one other source of X-rays is present. Astronomers have observed that both Jupiter and Saturn scatter X-ray light given off by the Sun, similar to how Earth's atmosphere scatters the Sun's light. What could cause Uranus to emit X-rays? The answer: mainly the Sun. The latter shows the planet at approximately the same orientation as it was during the 2002 Chandra observations.ΔΆ017 HRC Composite Image (Credit: X-ray: NASA/CXO/University College London/W. The main graphic shows a Chandra X-ray image of Uranus from 2002 (in pink) superimposed on an infrared image from the Keck-I Telescope obtained in a separate study in 2004. ![]() They saw a clear detection of X-rays from the first observation, just analyzed recently, and a possible flare of X-rays in those obtained fifteen years later. In the new study, researchers used Chandra observations taken in Uranus in 2002 and then again in 2017. Since Voyager 2 was the only spacecraft to ever fly by Uranus, astronomers currently rely on telescopes much closer to Earth, like Chandra and the Hubble Space Telescope, to learn about this distant and cold planet that is made up almost entirely of hydrogen and helium. The planet, which has four times the diameter of Earth, rotates on its side, making it different from all other planets in the solar system. Uranus is the seventh planet from the Sun and has two sets of rings around its equator. This result may help scientists learn more about this enigmatic ice giant planet in our solar system. Astronomers have detected X-rays from Uranus for the first time, using NASA's Chandra X-ray Observatory. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |