Written byAaron Gronstal
The false-color and contrast-enhanced image of Uranus at right reveals subtle bands of concentric clouds surrounding the planet's south pole.NASA/JPL-Caltech
Voyager 2 captured this moody parting shot of Uranus as the spacecraft sped off toward its next adventure at Neptune.NASA/JPL-Caltech
Arriving at Uranus in 1986, Voyager 2 observed a bluish orb with extremely subtle features. A haze layer hid most of the planet's cloud features from view.NASA/JPL-Caltech
On January 24, 1986, NASA’s Voyager 2 made its closest approach to the planet Uranus. This week, NASA celebrated the 30 year anniversary of the monumental views that humanity received of the distant, gaseous planet. Voyager 2 sent back stunning images of Uranus that helped shape our understanding of the outer Solar System and the diversity of planets that exist in the Universe.
“We knew Uranus would be different because it’s tipped on its side, and we expected surprises,” said Ed Stone, project scientist for the Voyager mission, in a recent NASApress release. Stone, who is based at the California Institute of Technology, has served as project scientist for Voyager since 1972 and continues in that role today.
Voyager 2’s journey to Uranus features in the Outer Solar System edition of Astrobiology: The Story of our Search for Life in the Universe. To read more about Uranus and astrobiology, check out Issue #4 of the Astrobiology Graphic Histories at: https://astrobiology.nasa.gov/resources/graphic-histories/
For the NASA press release celebrating the 30th anniversary of Voyager 2 at Uranus, visit: https://www.nasa.gov/feature/jpl/voyager-mission-celebrates-30-years-since-uranus
Astrobiology: The Story of our Search for Life in the Universe, Issue 4. Image credit: NASA Astrobiology.