The Digester

James Webb maps Uranus ionosphere in 3D to probe its magnetosphere

Feb 23rd 2026

ESA says NIRSpec observations from the James Webb Space Telescope captured a full rotation of Uranus to build a 3D map of its upper atmosphere, revealing temperature and ion density layers that trace the planet's magnetic field and auroras.

  • The study used JWST NIRSpec to observe a full rotation of Uranus and compile a 3D animation of the upper atmosphere.
  • Researchers targeted the ionosphere up to about 5,000 kilometers above the cloud tops to study how charged particles interact with the magnetic field.
  • Peak temperatures were measured between 3,000 and 4,000 kilometers above the cloud tops while highest ion densities occurred near 1,000 kilometers.
  • Uranus has a tilted and offset magnetosphere that produces complex auroral patterns sweeping across the planet.
  • The new data builds on Voyager 2 flyby results and improves understanding of ice giant atmospheres in our solar system and beyond.

Sources

extremetech.com