Neptune’s elusive auroras have been captured for the first time in newly released images. It offers an unprecedented look at the ice giant’s atmospheric activity. After decades of conjecture, the occurrence of these auroras has been confirmed by direct visual evidence from the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST). Their presence had been hinted at by earlier observations, such as the Voyager 2 flyby data, but photographing them had proven difficult. The telescope’s near-infrared capabilities, which allowed for the remarkably clear detection of these emissions, have been credited with the breakthrough.

Results of the Research

Reportedly, according to research conducted at Northumbria University and the University of Leicester,Neptune’s auroras are said to be very different from those seen on other planets. Neptune’s auroras can be seen in unexpected places, in contrast to Earth, Jupiter, and Saturn, where auroral activity is usually focused near the poles. This anomaly has been linked to the planet’s highly tilted and offset magnetic field, which directs charged particles from the solar wind in unpredictable ways.

Henrik Melin, a planetary scientist at Northumbria University, stated that seeing the auroras with such precision was unexpected. 

Role of H₃⁺ and Temperature Decline

Data collected using JWST’s Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) provided additional insights into Neptune’s ionosphere, where auroras form. A key discovery was the presence of trihydrogen cation (H₃⁺), an ion commonly associated with auroral emissions on gas giants. JWST scientist Heidi Hammel explained that detecting H₃⁺ was crucial. She said that H3+ has been a clear signifier on all the gas giants—Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus—of auroral activity and they expected to see the same on Neptune, highlighting that previous ground-based efforts had failed to confirm this.

Temperature measurements taken from the JWST observations also revealed a striking finding—Neptune’s upper atmosphere has cooled significantly since Voyager 2’s 1989 flyby. Melin noted that the recorded temperature in 2023 was just over half of what was observed during the spacecraft’s visit. The decrease in temperature may have contributed to the difficulty in detecting auroras, as cooler conditions result in weaker emissions.

Future Observations and Research

The study has reinforced the need for infrared-sensitive instruments in future missions aimed at studying the outer planets. Leigh Fletcher, a planetary scientist at the University of Leicester, said that JWST’s ability to capture Neptune’s auroras has set a new benchmark. He stated that this observatory has opened the window onto this last, previously hidden ionosphere of the giant planets. Scientists plan to conduct further observations to understand Neptune’s atmospheric and magnetic interactions fully.
 

A bright, mesmerising light was seen painting the night sky across several parts of Europe on March 24. Witnesses from the United Kingdom including Lincolnshire, Yorkshire, Leicestershire, Suffolk, and Essex along with observers in Wales, Sweden, Croatia, Poland, and Hungary, reported a stunning glowing vortex that lingered in the atmosphere for roughly 12 minutes before slowly dissipating.

Light Spiral Caused by SpaceX Rocket Reentry

According to the reports, the Falcon 9 rocket, which was responsible for this celestial display was launched from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida at 1:48 p.m. ET. The spacecraft was transporting a classified payload for the National Reconnaissance Office. Following the completion of its mission, the rocket’s second stage began its descent, initiating a spectacular visual phenomenon. As the remaining fuel was released into space, it crystallized into minuscule ice particles. Sunlight then caught these frozen droplets, generating the distinctive swirling pattern. The unique spiral shape emerged from the rocket’s rotational movement during its downward trajectory.

Increasing SpaceX Spiral Sightings

In recent years, the public has been captivated by similar cosmic spectacles. A “horned” spiral appeared in the sky above Europe in May 2024, and an aurora-coinciding launch in April 2023 created a dazzling blue spiral over Alaska. Similar structures were recorded by Hawaii’s Subaru Telescope on Mauna Kea in January 2023 and April 2022.

Although not all Falcon 9 reentry produces such observable spirals, aerospace experts point out that their frequency has grown in tandem with the rising number of rocket launches. By monitoring launch dates and predicted paths, astronomers can usually predict these events. But in this case, because the operation was classified, advance information was kept secret, which gave the night sky a sense of unanticipated amazement.