Neptune’s clouds have disappeared: scientists explain why
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Scientists have recorded changes in the atmosphere of the planet farthest from the sun: the clouds around Neptune have disappeared. In the study, scientists found a connection between solar cycles and the atmosphere of the eighth planet of the solar system. This is written by The New York Times with reference to Icarus magazine. Researchers have previously determined that Neptune’s cloud cover is driven by tides. But since October 2019, only one thin white spot has been drifting at the south pole of the planet. Photo: Hubble telescope To find out why the clouds disappeared, scientists analyzed images of Neptune from the last 30 years. They were made in the near-infrared range using ground-based observatories and the Hubble Space Telescope. The photo was compared with solar cycles. It turned out that they waxed and waned in sync with Neptune’s cloud cover. For example, in 2002 and 2015, many clouds were recorded on the eighth planet, when there was peak activity on the Sun. And vice versa – with a decrease in solar activity, the intensity of clouds decreased. “Ultraviolet radiation from the sun can indicate the structure of Neptune’s clouds – it’s like an orchestra conductor giving directions to a lone violinist 2.8 billion miles (about 4.5 billion km). This is another illustration that our Sun really is the ruler of the Solar System system, even in the most distant corners,” said astrophysicist at the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics Grant Tremblay. Scientists add that several solar cycles may not be enough to analyze such a phenomenon. Therefore, they are waiting for the next maximum, which is predicted for 2025. Clouds are likely to return to Neptune. Read also: Mars continues to rotate faster: scientists establish the reason
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