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                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

   [1]Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our
      fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation
                    written by a professional astronomer.

                                2026 March 12

         IFRAME: [2]https://www.youtube.com/embed/3jsn1829OPw?rel=0

                       A Near-Full Rotation of Uranus
     Video Credit: ESA/Webb, NASA, CSA, STScI, P. Tiranti, H. Melin, M.
                              Zamani (ESA/Webb)
   Text: [3]Keighley Rockcliffe ([4]NASA [5]GSFC, [6]UMBC CSST, [7]CRESST
                                     II)

   Explanation: [8]For the first time we are witnessing outer planet
   [9]Uranus take center stage and [10]pirouette. Uranus is one of the
   Solar System s strangest planets, [11]laying on its side and spinning
   like a [12]rotisserie chicken. The featured video is composed of over
   1000 [13]spectra taken over 15 hours of continuous viewing by
   [14]JWST's NIRSpec instrument while Uranus rotates. The data captures
   the behavior of Uranus s [15]ionosphere: the ionized layer of a planet
   s atmosphere that strongly interacts with [16]the planet's magnetic
   field. The aurora s rosy glow traces the complex interplay between
   [17]Uranus's misaligned rotation and magnetic axes. Clouds can be seen
   as bright spots traveling across the ice giant. The blue-to-red colors
   represent low-to-high altitudes, showing [18]a brand new
   three-dimensional view into how energy is distributed throughout the
   planet s atmosphere. In the image on the left, everything is framed by
   [19]the rings of Uranus. This is the most detailed look into the
   atmosphere of Uranus achieved yet!

                Almost Hyperspace: [20]Random APOD Generator
                    Tomorrow's picture: [21]happy trails
     __________________________________________________________________

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     __________________________________________________________________

    Authors & editors: [33]Robert Nemiroff ([34]MTU) & [35]Jerry Bonnell
                                 ([36]UMCP)
          NASA Official: Amber Straughn [37]Specific rights apply.
            [38]NASA Web Privacy, [39]Accessibility, [40]Notices;
                A service of: [41]ASD at [42]NASA / [43]GSFC,
                         [44]NASA Science Activation
                           & [45]Michigan Tech. U.

References

   1. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
   2. https://www.youtube.com/embed/3jsn1829OPw?rel=0
   3. https://kerockcliffe.com/
   4. https://science.gsfc.nasa.gov/sci/bio/keighley.e.rockcliffe
   5. https://www.nasa.gov/goddard/
   6. https://csst.umbc.edu/directory/
   7. https://cresst2.umd.edu/
   8. https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Webb/Webb_maps_Uranus_s_mysterious_upper_atmosphere
   9. https://science.nasa.gov/uranus/
  10. https://tenor.com/kkzN22NnPWc.gif
  11. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap250914.html
  12. https://tinyurl.com/rotisserie-chicken
  13. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/science-overview/science-explainers/spectroscopy-101-types-of-spectra-and-spectroscopy/
  14. https://science.nasa.gov/mission/webb/nirspec/
  15. https://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/earth-and-planetary-sciences/planetary-ionosphere
  16. https://astrobites.org/2020/12/11/a-tour-of-solar-system-magnetospheres/
  17. https://www.planetary.org/space-images/the-magnetic-fields-of-uranus-and-neptune
  18. https://agupubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1029/2025GL119304
  19. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap971126.html
  20. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/random_apod.html
  21. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260313.html
  22. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260311.html
  23. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/archivepix.html
  24. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/apsubmit2015.html
  25. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/aptree.html
  26. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/cgi-bin/apod/apod_search
  27. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/calendar/allyears.html
  28. https://apod.com/feed.rss
  29. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/edlinks.html
  30. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html
  31. https://asterisk.apod.com/discuss_apod.php?date=260312
  32. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/ap260313.html
  33. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/faculty/Nemiroff.html
  34. http://www.phy.mtu.edu/
  35. https://antwrp.gsfc.nasa.gov/htmltest/jbonnell/www/bonnell.html
  36. http://www.astro.umd.edu/
  37. https://apod.nasa.gov/apod/lib/about_apod.html#srapply
  38. https://www.nasa.gov/about/highlights/HP_Privacy.html
  39. https://www.nasa.gov/general/accessibility/
  40. https://www.nasa.gov/privacy/
  41. https://astrophysics.gsfc.nasa.gov/
  42. https://www.nasa.gov/
  43. https://www.nasa.gov/centers/goddard/
  44. https://science.nasa.gov/learners
  45. http://www.mtu.edu/