New Voyager 2 Findings Challenge Decades of Knowledge About Uranus’ Unique Magnetosphere

Voyager 2 revealed that Uranus has unique properties compared to other planets in the solar system, particularly in terms of its magnetosphere, which has been shown to lack plasma.

Pixabay/Thomas Hube

NASA is preparing for a new mission to Uranus, which is expected to be launched in the next ten years, until 2032

Recent data from the Voyager 2 spacecraft shows that we understand it Uranus it may have been wrong for nearly four decades. In January 1986, the probe NASA made a flyby of the planet, the only space mission to visit it. During this passage, Voyager 2 revealed that Uranus has unique properties compared to other planets in the solar system, especially regarding its magnetosphere, which lacked plasma. A study published in the journal Nature Astronomy suggests that Voyager 2’s passage occurred during a period of intense solar activity, which may have affected Uranus’ magnetosphere.

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This particular condition was observed only 4% of the time studied, resulting in a solar wind pressure of up to 20 times, which helps to explain the low plasma density found and the strength of the belts radiation. NASA is preparing for a new mission to Uranus, which is expected to be launched in the next ten years, until 2032. This new journey will include a probe dedicated to studying the atmosphere of the planet . Scientists are excited about the opportunity to deepen knowledge about Uranus and Neptune, planets that are crucial to understanding exoplanets that have similar properties.

Published by Sarah Paula

* Report produced with the help of AI