Overview

• NASA's Hubble Space Telescope conducted a 20-year study (2002–2022) of Uranus, uncovering significant insights into its atmospheric composition and seasonal dynamics.
• The planet's atmosphere, primarily hydrogen, helium, and methane, shows uneven methane distribution with strong depletion near the poles.
• Hubble observed dramatic brightening of aerosols in Uranus's northern polar region, linked to increased solar radiation as the planet approaches its northern summer solstice in 2030.
• Complex atmospheric circulation patterns were identified, with evidence of downwelling near the poles and upwelling at other latitudes.
• These findings provide valuable data for understanding exoplanets of similar size and composition, enhancing future planetary and atmospheric studies.