π NASA Astronomy Picture of the Day
A Near-Full Rotation of Uranus
Date: 2026-03-12
Explanation:
For the first time
we are witnessing outer planet
Uranus
take center stage and
pirouette.
Uranus is one of the Solar Systemβs strangest planets,
lying on its side
and spinning like a
rotisserie chicken.
The featured video is composed of over 1000
spectra
taken over 15 hours of continuous viewing by
JWST's NIRSpec instrument
while Uranus rotates.
The data captures the behavior of Uranusβs
ionosphere:
the ionized layer of a planetβs atmosphere that strongly interacts with
the planet's magnetic field.
The auroraβs rosy glow traces the complex interplay between
Uranus's misaligned rotation and magnetic axes.
Clouds can be seen as bright spots traveling across the ice giant. The blue-to-red colors represent low-to-high altitudes, showing
a brand new three-dimensional view
into how energy is distributed throughout the planetβs atmosphere. In the image on the left, everything is framed by
the rings of Uranus.
This is the most detailed look into the atmosphere of Uranus achieved yet!
Almost Hyperspace: Random APOD Generator







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