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Astronomers at NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory have detected X-rays from the planet Uranus for the first time.
Researchers used observations of the ice giant taken in 2002 and 2017 to detect radiation in a new study published Tuesday in the Journal of Geophysical Research.
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Upon further examination and analysis, they found clear x-ray detection from the first sighting and a possible x-ray surge from those 15 years later.
Scientists believe that the sun could be the driving force that causes Uranus to emit the x-rays.
Uranus in roughly the same orientation as during the Chandra observations in 2002. HRC 2017 composite image (X-ray: NASA / CXO / University College London / W. Dunn et al; Optics: WM Keck Observatory)
(NASA)
Astronomers have previously observed that Jupiter and Saturn scatter X-ray light from the sun.
However, while the study authors say they believe the detected x-rays would also come from “scattering,” another source of x-rays is also likely.
Like Saturn, they say, the rings of Uranus could produce the X-rays themselves or even the planet’s aurora – a phenomenon created when high-energy particles interact with the atmosphere.
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“Uranus is surrounded by charged particles such as electrons and protons in its near space environment,” the Chandra X-ray Observatory wrote in a statement. “If these energetic particles collide with the rings, they could cause the rings to glow in the x-rays.”
X-rays are emitted in the auroras of Earth and Jupiter also has auroras, although the x-rays of the aurora on Jupiter come from two sources.
However, an almost identical version from NASA notes that researchers remain uncertain about the cause of the auroras on Uranus.
The agency wrote that the unusual orientations of its axis of rotation and magnetic field can make the planet’s auroras “unusually complex and variable.”
Uranus’ axis of rotation is almost parallel to its path around the sun – unlike the axes of other planets in the solar system – and while Uranus is tilted sideways, its magnetic field is tiled by a different amount.
“Determining the sources of Uranus’ x-rays could help astronomers better understand how more exotic objects in space, such as growing black holes and neutron stars, emit x-rays,” wrote the NASA.
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Uranus is the seventh planet from the sun in the solar system. It has two sets of rings around its equator. Its diameter is four times that of the Earth.
Because Voyager 2 was the only spacecraft to ever fly by Uranus, astronomers rely on telescopes like Chandra to learn more about the cold planet which is almost entirely made up of hydrogen and helium.
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