Uranus changed structure and brightened significantly, study finds

A new study revealed Uranus’s structure as a planet changed and brightened significantly over the past 20 years.

The study, performed by researchers from the University of Arizona and the University of Wisconsin, observed Uranus four times (2002, 2012, 2015, 2022) in the 20 years using NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope.

“Hubble observations suggest complex atmospheric circulation patterns on Uranus during this period, NASA said.

“The data that are most sensitive to the methane distribution indicate a downwelling in the polar regions and upwelling in other regions,” the agency added.

Researchers discovered the south polar region of the planet got darker in winter shadow, while the north polar region brightened as it began to come into a more direct view as northern summer approached.

Uranus’s atmosphere is composed primarily of hydrogen and helium, with a small amount of methane and traces of water and ammonia.