Scientists reveal the true colors of Uranus and Neptune

Our concepts about colors Planets Neptune and Uranus have been challenged by research conducted by astronomers in the United Kingdom.

This is in contrast to the images taken by the Voyager mission in the 1980s, which indicated the indigo blue color of the planet. Neptune And green from UranusA recent study showed that both icy planets share shades of blue and green.

What are the colors of Uranus and Neptune?

Astronomer Catherine Heymans, Professor Astrophysics From the University of Edinburgh, he compares adjusting colors in photos to a common Instagram habit:

“They only highlighted the blue color to reveal features that we can see in Neptune's atmosphere, which is why the image looks very blue, but in reality, Neptune is very similar to Uranus.”

Image: University of Oxford via BBC / Reproduction

Professor Patrick Irwin, leader seek from the University of Oxford, highlights that over time, the distinction between true and artificially saturated colors has been lost.

Robert Massey, deputy director of the Royal Astronomical Society (RAS), explains that image enhancement is common in space research and does not involve a conspiracy.

Irwin and his team processed the original data to create “the most accurate representation to date” of the colors of Neptune and Uranus.

The initial error arose from a reconstruction of images taken by Voyager 2 NASAwhich recorded the planets in three different colors, resulting in images that were not always precisely balanced.

Using data from the Hubble Space Telescope and the European Southern Observatory's Very Large Telescope, the researchers revealed the true colors.

Uranus and Neptune show a similar blue-green color, while Neptune shows a slight hint of additional blue due to the thin layer of haze.

The study also points to seasonal changes, showing that Uranus appears greener during the summer and winter, while it appears a bluer color during the spring and fall when Uranus is greener during the spring and fall. sun It is above the equator.

This research redefines our understanding of the colors of these magnificent gas giant planets, and highlights the importance of accuracy in astronomical representations.