Researchers Confirm Solar Storm Changed Our Understanding of Uranus
- NASA's Voyager 2 flew by Uranus in January 1986, revealing unusual features of the planet.
- A recent study proposes that a solar storm during the flyby could explain Uranus's unique radiation and magnetosphere characteristics.
- Researchers are calling for a new mission to Uranus to investigate the planet's conditions outside of solar storm events.
In 1986, NASA's Voyager 2 became the first and only spacecraft to explore Uranus, providing key insights into the planet's features. Over the years, scientists have been puzzled by Uranus’s intense radiation belts and minimal plasma in its magnetosphere. Recent research from University College London indicates that a powerful solar storm coincided with Voyager 2's flyby, influencing the spacecraft's observations. This storm likely distorted Uranus's magnetosphere and affected the study of its moons, suggesting potential geological activity and even oceans on these moons. The findings emphasize the need for a new mission to Uranus to better understand its characteristics and clarify previous data, particularly because Voyager's results were based on conditions that are rare. Experts are advocating for a carefully planned follow-up mission to gather comprehensive data when the planet isn't affected by extreme solar weather.