JWST captures new images of Neptune

The James Webb Space Telescope has cast its infrared eye onto the remote world of Neptune, revealing rings and bright spots believed to be clouds of methane ice


NEPTUNE WITH SEVEN OF ITS 14 KNOWN MOONS VISIBLE

Triton (moon): Sparkling like star due to its covering of frozen condensed nitrogen which reflects 70% of sunlight

Also unusual because of its retrograde orbit – opposite direction to Neptune’s rotation
     
Proteus 

NEPTUNE
Despina 
Larissa
Thalassa
Nomad
Galatea

Rings: First crisp view of planet's rings – some of which have never been seen before, let alone with such clarity – since Voyager 2 flyby in 1989

                                      
SUN
MERCURY 
VENUS 
EARTH 
MARS
JUPITER
SATURN
URANUS
NEPTUNE

Composition of Neptune’s atmosphere

Hydrogen 80%
Helium: 18.5%
Methane: 1.5% 

          
Sources: NASA, ESA, NOAA
Pictures: NASA 
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