– Two teams of astronomers from the University of Leicester will use the James Webb Space Telescope to study the auroras on Uranus and Saturn.
– On Uranus, the study aims to better understand what causes the planet to be warmer than expected given its distance from the Sun. One theory is that energy from the auroras helps heat the planet. The JWST observations will occur over one day on Uranus.
– On Saturn, the study will observe the northern auroral region over one Saturn day to monitor temperature changes as it rotates. This could provide insights into the sources of charged particles that power Saturn’s auroras.
– The studies will use JWST’s Near-Infrared Camera to image the auroras. This could improve understanding of auroras in the solar system and roles in planetary heating. It may also inform studies of auroras on exoplanets.
– Observing Uranus’s auroras could provide clues about atmospheres and magnetic fields of exoplanets similar in size to Uranus and Neptune.
Source: Space
