Researchers spot first polar cyclone on Uranus

In a groundbreaking discovery, NASA scientists have uncovered compelling evidence of a polar cyclone on Uranus, marking the first known instance of such a phenomenon on the distant ice giant. By closely studying the radio waves emitted from the planet, the cyclone was detected at its north pole and it's much like those spotted by the agency's Cassini mission at Saturn.

With this discovery, cyclones or anti-cyclones have now been confirmed at the poles of every planet in our solar system, except for Mercury, which lacks a substantial atmosphere.

Uranus, known for its icy composition and remote location in our solar system, has long fascinated scientists. However, due to the planet's unique orbit, it has been challenging to obtain a comprehensive understanding of its atmospheric dynamics.

For this study, the researchers utilized huge radio antenna dishes of the Very Large Array (VLA) in New Mexico to peer below Uranus' clouds and found that the circulating air at the planet's north pole seems to be warmer and drier - the hallmarks of a strong cyclone. These observations, collected in 2015, 2021, and 2022, penetrated deeper into the ice giant's atmosphere than any previous studies.

Due to its position in orbit, Uranus presents a unique challenge for researchers. However, since about 2015, scientists have been granted an improved vantage point to explore and study its polar atmosphere.

"These observations tell us a lot more about the story of Uranus. It's a much more dynamic world than you might think. It isn’t just a plain blue ball of gas. There’s a lot happening under the hood," said lead author Alex Akins of NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Southern California.

Wow, Uranus is showing off more these days. @NASASolarSystem researchers found a polar cyclone on the gas giant for the first time. Microwave observations and the planet's particular orbit gave scientists a better view: https://t.co/H6hFIvEHHP pic.twitter.com/B17dwXflyk

— NASA (@NASA) May 23, 2023