In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have detected “auroras” in the infrared spectrum of Uranus for the first time after nearly 40 years of endeavor.
In a groundbreaking discovery, astronomers have detected “auroras” in the infrared spectrum of Uranus for the first time after nearly 40 years of endeavor.
On November 7, 2023, the NARIT Facebook page of the National Astronomical Research Institute posted a message announcing the remarkable finding of “auroras” in the infrared wave range of Uranus. This long-awaited discovery was made possible through the utilization of data obtained from the Keck II telescope located on Mauna Kea, a volcanic peak in the Hawaiian Islands, USA. The research, led by Emma Thomas, was subsequently published in the prestigious academic journal Nature Astronomy on October 23, 2023.
The Keck II telescope, situated at the summit of the Mauna Kea volcano, is distinguished for its exceptional quality and features a primary mirror measuring approximately 10 meters in diameter. Comprised of 36 small hexagonal mirrors, the telescope acquires high-quality images, enabling astronomers to make groundbreaking observations.
The occurrence of “auroras” is a result of charged particles from the solar wind interacting with a planet’s magnetic field and creating a colorful illumination above the atmosphere. On Earth, this phenomenon manifests as red, green, and blue lights near the North and South Poles. While “auroras” on Uranus cannot be directly observed by the human eye, they are formed from hydrogen and helium molecules within an atmosphere of significantly lower temperatures than Earth’s. The stimulation of these molecules by charged particles from the solar wind produces energy in the ultraviolet and infrared wavelength ranges.
Remarkably, “auroras” on Uranus were previously imaged in ultraviolet wavelengths by NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft in 1986, which flew past the planet that year. However, it took nearly four decades before the phenomenon was observed in the infrared wavelengths.
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Graduate students from the University of Leicester, England, utilized data from the Keck II Near-Infrared Spectrometer (NIRSPEC) to identify the spectral lines of “trihydrogen cation” (H3+) in studies of Uranus. This molecule results from the breakdown of hydrogen gas into ions due to collisions with the solar wind, emitting energy in the form of infrared radiation near the planet’s north pole, resembling the “Northern Lights” on Uranus.
Notably, the temperatures measured from Uranus and other gas giant planets were found to be nearly a hundred degrees Celsius higher than anticipated, with a potential link to high-energy auroras serving as a source of heat energy that disperses from the magnetic poles to the equator, influencing the planet’s temperature. Furthermore, abnormalities in the magnetic field of Uranus and Neptune, with tilted magnetic axes, may yield new insights for astronomers studying the auroras on these gas planets.
References:
- space.com
- nature.com
Organized by:
Adisak Sukwisut,
Astronomical Information Officer,
DDS
Astronomers detect “aurora” in the infrared spectrum of Uranus. got it for the first time After almost 40 years of trying
Astronomers detect “aurora” in the infrared spectrum of Uranus. got it for the first time After almost 40 years of trying
On 7 November 2023, NARIT Facebook, National Astronomical Research Institute Post a message stating: Astronomer finds “Aurora” In the infrared wave range of Uranus obtained for the first time After almost 40 years of effort, the discovery was made using data from a giant telescope on earth called Keck II on Mauna Kea. Hawaiian Islands, USA, and this research was published in the academic journal Nature Astronomy on October 23, 2023, led by Emma Thomas.
The Keck II telescope is a high quality telescope. Set at the highest point of the Mauna Kea volcano in the Hawaiian Islands. United States The Keck telescopes are twin telescopes, Keck I and Keck II, each with a primary mirror approximately 10 meters in diameter. The primary mirror consists of 36 small hexagonal mirrors. The pictures are therefore of high quality.
Aurora (Aurora) Occurs when charged particles come from the solar wind. Responds to the planet’s magnetic field and moves along the magnetic field lines towards the magnetic poles When entering the planet’s atmosphere Charged particles collide with molecules in the atmosphere. As a result, those molecules glow. It creates a beautiful colorful light above the planet’s atmosphere.
About the birth of aurora on Earth It results from charged particles from the solar wind colliding with oxygen and nitrogen atoms. Until it becomes a red, green and blue light that can be seen in areas near the North and South Poles. Aurora which happened onUranuswhich cannot be seen directly with the human eye as on our planet. Because it is formed from hydrogen and helium molecules in an atmosphere that is much lower in temperature than on Earth. When stimulated by charged particles from the solar wind releasing energy in the ultraviolet wavelength range andinfrared
Aurora on Uranus in ultraviolet wavelengths It was first seen in 1986 by NASA’s Voyager 2 spacecraft, which flew past the planet that year. And it will take almost another 40 years before we can say that In the infrared wavelengths we can also see auroras.
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Graduate students from the University of Leicester, England, used data from the Keck II Near-Infrared Spectrometer, or NIRSPEC, an instrument used to observe celestial objects in the near-infrared wavelengths. Studies of Uranus have discovered the spectral lines of “trihydrogen cation” or H3+, which is a molecule of hydrogen gas that breaks down into a positive charge consisting of 3 protons and 2 electrons.
The solar wind collides with the atmosphere of Uranus. This will cause the hydrogen gas to break down into ions. It then forms H3+ molecules and releases energy in the form of infrared rays. Occurs near the north pole of the star. Which one can be said to be this “Northern Lights” On Uranus itself.
Astronomers that the temperature measured from Uranus and all gas giant planets All had temperatures that were almost a hundred degrees Celsius higher than in the model. It is unlikely that this is simply the result of the sun’s heat. One possible theory is The high energy auroras that occur can be the origin of heat energy that spreads from the magnetic poles. towards the equator of the magnetic field As a result, the temperature of the planet is higher than the model had calculated.
Normally, the axis of a planet’s magnetic field will have a direction consistent with its own axis of rotation. But for Uranus and Neptune The magnetic axis is tilted as much as 59 degrees and 47 degrees from its axis of rotation, respectively, the study of the auroras is related to the direction of the magnetic field. It may give astronomers new clues about the magnetic field abnormalities occurring on these two gas planets.
refer to:
[1] space.com
[2] nature.com
Organized by: Adisak Sukwisut, Astronomical Information Officer, DDS.
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