For decades, Uranus has remained one of the most enigmatic planets in our Solar System.
Its oddities, first observed by NASA’s Voyager 2 during its 1986 flyby, have puzzled scientists ever since.
Recent research, however, suggests that many of these mysteries might be the result of an unusually powerful solar storm that coincided with the spacecraft’s visit.
Voyager 2’s flyby gave scientists their first—and only—close-up of Uranus, shaping much of what we know about the planet today.
However, some of the findings, particularly regarding the planet’s magnetosphere, were unexpected.
The planet’s radiation belts, for instance, were found to be nearly as intense as Jupiter’s, yet the surrounding magnetosphere appeared nearly empty of plasma.
This presented a puzzle, as there was no clear source of charged particles to sustain these radiation belts.
New research suggests Uranus’ moons could be active, challenging past assumptions about their composition.A new study published in Nature Astronomy suggests that the peculiar behavior of Uranus during the flyby can be explained by a powerful solar storm that occurred at the same time.
The storm is believed to have compressed the planet’s magnetic bubble, pushing plasma out and intensifying the radiation belts.
This solar event might also explain the lack of water-related particles around the planet, as the storm could have blown away material that might otherwise have been detected.
The study’s authors propose that Uranus’s moons, which were once thought to be inert, may be active, possibly harboring oceans beneath their icy surfaces.
Dr. William Dunn, co-author of the study, emphasized that our understanding of Uranus is still limited, and the need for a second spacecraft to visit the planet has never been more apparent.
NASA is currently planning a new mission to Uranus, with a spacecraft set to explore the planet’s mysteries in greater detail.
With Voyager 2 now in interstellar space, the future of Uranus exploration may finally hold the key to understanding this strange, distant world.