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                        Astronomy Picture of the Day

    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

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

   Explanation: For the first time we are witnessing outer planet Uranus
   take center stage and pirouette. Uranus is one of the Solar System s
   strangest planets, laying on its side and spinning like a rotisserie
   chicken. The featured video is composed of over 1000 spectra taken over
   15 hours of continuous viewing by JWST's NIRSpec instrument while
   Uranus rotates. The data captures the behavior of Uranus s ionosphere:
   the ionized layer of a planet s atmosphere that strongly interacts with
   the planet's magnetic field. The aurora s rosy glow traces the complex
   interplay between 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 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
   the rings of Uranus. This is the most detailed look into the atmosphere
   of Uranus achieved yet!

                  Almost Hyperspace: Random APOD Generator
                      Tomorrow's picture: happy trails
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       Authors & editors: Robert Nemiroff (MTU) & Jerry Bonnell (UMCP)
            NASA Official: Amber Straughn Specific rights apply.
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                             & Michigan Tech. U.

