Neptune, James Webb Space Telescope image

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Infrared James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) image of Neptune (lower centre) and its rings. Neptune is the eighth and farthest planet in our Solar System. It is nearly billion kilometres from the Sun. It is an ice giant with a hydrogen and helium-rich interior and is surround by at least five distinct rings, which mostly consist of dark icy dust. Visible in the outermost ring, known as Adam's ring, are clumps of dust called ring arcs. These thicker bands of dust have been observed to split and evolve. Bright patches on the planet are methane-ice clouds high in the atmosphere that are reflecting sunlight. Image obtained by the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam).

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Size: 4253px × 4134px
Location:
Photo credit: © NASA/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No

Keywords: -, -infrared, adam, arcs, astronomical, astronomy, atmosphere, atmospheric, background, black, camera, clouds, dust, giant, ice, infrared, ir, james, jwst, methane, neptune, nircam, planet, planetary, ring, rings, science, solar, space, system, telescope, webb