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Collection:
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NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Collection
NASA Planetary Photo Journal Collection
Collection
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Title:
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Neptune's "Hot" South Pole
Title
Neptune's "Hot" South Pole
Title
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Original Caption Released with Image:
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These thermal images show a "hot" south pole on the planet Neptune. These warmer temperatures provide an avenue for methane to escape out of the deep atmosphere.
The images were obtained with the Very Large Telescope in Chile, using an imager/spectrometer for mid-infrared wavelengths on Sept. 1 and 2, 2006. The telescope is operated by the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (known as ESO).
Scientists say Neptune's south pole is "hotter" than anywhere else on the planet by about 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). The average temperature on Neptune is about minus 200 degrees Celsius (minus 392 degrees Fahrenheit).
The upper left image samples temperatures near the top of Neptune's troposphere (near 100 millibar pressure, which is one-tenth the Earth atmospheric pressure at sea level). The hottest temperatures are indicated at the lower part of the image, at Neptune's south pole (see the graphic at the upper right). The lower two images, taken 6.3 hours apart, sample temperatures at higher altitudes in Neptune's stratosphere. They do show generally warmer temperatures near, but not at, the south pole. They also show a distinct warm area which can be seen in the lower left image and rotated completely around the back of the planet and returned to the earth-facing hemisphere in the lower right image.
Original_Caption_Rel eased_with_Image
These thermal images show a "hot" south pole on the planet Neptune. These warmer temperatures provide an avenue for methane to escape out of the deep atmosphere.
The images were obtained with the Very Large Telescope in Chile, using an imager/spectrometer for mid-infrared wavelengths on Sept. 1 and 2, 2006. The telescope is operated by the European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (known as ESO).
Scientists say Neptune's south pole is "hotter" than anywhere else on the planet by about 10 degrees Celsius (50 degrees Fahrenheit). The average temperature on Neptune is about minus 200 degrees Celsius (minus 392 degrees Fahrenheit).
The upper left image samples temperatures near the top of Neptune's troposphere (near 100 millibar pressure, which is one-tenth the Earth atmospheric pressure at sea level). The hottest temperatures are indicated at the lower part of the image, at Neptune's south pole (see the graphic at the upper right). The lower two images, taken 6.3 hours apart, sample temperatures at higher altitudes in Neptune's stratosphere. They do show generally warmer temperatures near, but not at, the south pole. They also show a distinct warm area which can be seen in the lower left image and rotated completely around the back of the planet and returned to the earth-facing hemisphere in the lower right image.
Original Caption Released with Image
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Image Credit:
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VLT/ESO/NASA/JPL/Par is Observatory
Image_Credit
VLT/ESO/NASA/JPL/Par is Observatory
Image Credit
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Produced By:
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JPL
Produced_By
JPL
Produced By
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Mission:
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European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO)
Mission
European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere (ESO)
Mission
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Spacecraft:
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VLT
Spacecraft
VLT
Spacecraft
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Target Name:
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Neptune
Target_Name
Neptune
Target Name
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Is a satellite of:
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Sol (our sun)
Is_a_satellite_of
Sol (our sun)
Is a satellite of
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Instrument:
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Mid-infrared Camera/Spectrometer (VISIR)
Instrument
Mid-infrared Camera/Spectrometer (VISIR)
Instrument
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Product Size:
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720 samples x 540 lines
Product_Size
720 samples x 540 lines
Product Size
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facet_what:
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Sun
facet_what
Sun
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Earth
facet_what
Earth
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Neptune
facet_what
Neptune
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Spectrometer
facet_what
Spectrometer
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Imager
facet_what
Imager
facet_what
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facet_what:
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ESO
facet_what
ESO
facet_what
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facet_what:
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VLT
facet_what
VLT
facet_what
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facet_what:
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European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere
facet_what
European Organization for Astronomical Research in the Southern Hemisphere
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Mid-infrared Camera
facet_what
Mid-infrared Camera
facet_what
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facet_what:
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VISIR
facet_what
VISIR
facet_what
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facet_what:
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Very Large Telescope
facet_what
Very Large Telescope
facet_what
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facet_where:
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Chile
facet_where
Chile
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Paris
facet_where
Paris
facet_where
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facet_where:
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Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL)
facet_where
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Image #:
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PIA09927
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UID:
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SPD-PHOTJ-PIA09927
UID
SPD-PHOTJ-PIA09927
UID
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orignial url:
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orignial_url
orignial url
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