Neptune through two cosmic lenses: JWST vs. Hubble
Why do these images of the same planet look so different? Let’s explore
Color Contrast:
Hubble captures Neptune in visible light—just like human eyes. That’s why it appears vibrant blue. That color comes from methane in Neptune’s atmosphere, which absorbs red light and reflects blue back to us.
Infrared Eyes:
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), on the other hand, sees in infrared light, which we can’t see. In its view, Neptune glows white with an icy, ghost-like appearance. That’s because methane absorbs most of the infrared light—except where high-altitude clouds bounce some of it back, making those areas stand out.
And check this out – Neptune’s rings!
JWST revealed Neptune’s faint rings with stunning clarity—better than we’ve seen since Voyager 2 zipped by in 1989. Hubble had a tough time spotting them due to their faintness and distance.
The first Webb image of Neptune was released in September 2022, and it left astronomers in awe with its unmatched detail.
Neptune through two cosmic lenses: JWST vs. Hubble
Why do these images of the same planet look so different? Let’s explore
Color Contrast:
Hubble captures Neptune in visible light—just like human eyes. That’s why it appears vibrant blue. That color comes from methane in Neptune’s atmosphere, which absorbs red light and reflects blue back to us.
Infrared Eyes:
The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), on the other hand, sees in infrared light, which we can’t see. In its view, Neptune glows white with an icy, ghost-like appearance. That’s because methane absorbs most of the infrared light—except where high-altitude clouds bounce some of it back, making those areas stand out.
And check this out – Neptune’s rings!
JWST revealed Neptune’s faint rings with stunning clarity—better than we’ve seen since Voyager 2 zipped by in 1989. Hubble had a tough time spotting them due to their faintness and distance.
The first Webb image of Neptune was released in September 2022, and it left astronomers in awe with its unmatched detail.
