Uranus secrets uncovered: NASA study redefines magnetosphere
In 1986, humanity got its first close look at Uranus's secrets thanks to the Voyager 2 probe. After a lengthy journey, this probe approached the seventh planet in the Solar System, delivering data that intrigued scientists for years. The surprising measurements of Uranus's magnetosphere, in particular, sparked numerous debates and remained a mystery for many decades.
5:54 PM EST, November 12, 2024
Now, nearly 40 years later, a team of researchers from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, led by Jamie Jasinski, has presented a hypothesis that may change our understanding of the past readings.
National Geographic reports that when Voyager 2 reached Uranus, it conducted detailed studies of the planet's magnetosphere, which turned out to be completely different from Earth's magnetic field.
On Earth, the magnetic field is symmetric and nearly parallel to the geographical equator. In contrast, on Uranus, it is highly asymmetric, with the magnetic axis tilted nearly 60 degrees from the planet's rotational axis.
Moreover, the magnetic field's intensity in the southern hemisphere was ten times weaker than in the north. This kind of asymmetry was completely incomprehensible to researchers and remained puzzling for years.
Strange magnetic field: Nature or unusual influence?
For decades, scientists tried to explain the anomalies of Uranus's magnetic field. Complex hypotheses were developed, and some researchers even began to question the accuracy of Voyager's instruments, suggesting they might have been malfunctioning.
"It practically invalidates everything," said Jamie Jasinski, indicating the data might relate to an exceptional situation.
The latest analysis by Jasinski's team indicates that the strong solar wind influenced the measurement results, literally compressing Uranus's magnetosphere. This suggests that Voyager might have observed a temporary condition atypical for the planet, lasting only 4% of the total time.
As noted by National Geographic, this discovery changes the perspective: Uranus's asymmetrical magnetosphere is not the norm, but a rare situation caused by external forces.
Hidden plasma and oceans on the moons? New theories about Uranus
Interestingly, Jasinski's hypothesis also points to a potential plasma source surrounding Uranus, which Voyager 2 did not detect. Researchers suspect this plasma may come from two of Uranus's moons, Oberon and Titania.
Until now, these moons were considered geologically dead, but new analyses suggest they may harbor hidden oceans, supplying plasma to the planet's magnetosphere.
This new perspective opens the door to further research on Uranus's moons, which may exhibit geological activity. This hypothesis also supports the theory of the existence of liquid oceans inside them, which could potentially support microbial life.
Uranus "on its side": A unique position in the Solar System
According to National Geographic, the magnetosphere is only one piece of the puzzle related to Uranus. This planet is also distinguished by its unusual orientation – it rotates almost lying on its side. This position raises many questions and is the subject of numerous theories.
One hypothesis suggests that a long time ago, Uranus collided with another massive protoplanet, altering its rotational axis. Another theory suggests that Uranus might have had a massive moon, whose gravitational force caused the planet to tilt to its current position slowly.
