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Scientists have recently confirmed the presence of infrared auroras in the northern regions of Uranus, filling in some of the gaps in our knowledge about the planet’s auroras. These findings may also help explain why Uranus is hotter than expected despite its distance from the Sun.

Astronomers have long questioned why gas giant planets, including Uranus, have temperatures hundreds of degrees higher than what models predict based solely on solar warming. One theory suggests that energetic auroras could be the cause, generating and pushing heat from the aurora down towards the magnetic equator.

Auroras occur when particles are accelerated towards a planet along magnetic field lines and interact with particles in its atmosphere, producing ionization and creating a glow. While auroras are not exclusive to Earth, they can appear different on other worlds. Jupiter’s auroras are powerful and permanent, blazing in ultraviolet light, while those on Mars have a similar appearance. Venus’ auroras resemble those on Earth, and Mercury’s manifest as X-ray fluorescence from the minerals on its surface.

Although ultraviolet auroras on Uranus have been known since 1986, evidence of infrared auroras has been elusive. However, scientists have suspected their presence since 1992. Using the NIRSPEC instrument at the Keck Observatory in 2006, researchers collected six hours of observations of Uranus, specifically looking for ionized triatomic hydrogen (H3+), which indicates temperature changes. Upon analyzing the data, they discovered an increase in density of H3+, consistent with an infrared aurora.

This discovery not only provides insight into Uranus’s atmosphere and magnetic field but also offers valuable information about other Uranus-like worlds in our galaxy. By studying their auroras, scientists can make inferences about their atmospheres and magnetospheres, enhancing our understanding of these alien environments.

The research, which has been published in Nature Astronomy, marks the culmination of 30 years of study on Uranus’s auroras and ushers in a new era of aurora investigations on the planet. These findings will further expand our knowledge of ice giant auroras and help us better comprehend planetary magnetic fields in our solar system, as well as at exoplanets.

Sources:
– Astrophysicist Emma Thomas, University of Leicester: UK
– Nature Astronomy journal: https://www.nature.com/articles/s41550-022-01330-2

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