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Image Credit: Earthsky

2 of Uranus’ largest moons have surprising dark sides

  • A new study using the Hubble Space Telescope revealed that Uranus' moons Titania and Oberon are darker on their leading hemispheres due to dust from irregular moons.
  • Contrary to expectations, the darkening on the leading hemispheres of Titania and Oberon is caused by dust accumulation arising from tiny micrometeorites impacting the moons.
  • The study, presented by researcher Christian Soto at STScI, was shared at the 246th Meeting of the American Astronomical Society.
  • Researchers had anticipated darker trailing hemispheres on the moons due to radiation from charged particles in Uranus' magnetosphere.
  • The tidally locked nature of Uranus' moons, with the same hemisphere always facing the planet, contributes to this phenomenon.
  • Investigator Richard Cartwright from Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory cited Uranus' extreme axial tilt as a factor influencing the magnetic field interaction with the moons.
  • Dust accumulation hitting the leading hemispheres of Titania and Oberon is shielding the inner moons from darkening.
  • The unexpected findings challenge previous assumptions about the interaction between Uranus' magnetic field and its moons.
  • The research suggests a unique dust collection explanation for the dark sides of Titania and Oberon, contrary to the anticipated effects from Uranus' magnetosphere.
  • This study sheds light on the complex interplay of factors influencing the surfaces of Uranus' largest moons.

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