New studies from the University of Oxford have revealed that Neptune, long believed to be dark blue, actually has a greenish-blue shade similar to Uranus. The findings, based on pictures taken by the Khabble space telescope and the VLT telescope of the European Southern Observatory, show that the seventh and eighth planets from the Sun have a more similar appearance than previously thought.
According to Professor Patrick Irvin from Oxford University, misconceptions about Neptune and Uranus’ colors can be traced back to outdated image processing methods used in the 20th century. At that time, colors were captured separately and then mixed, leading to inaccurate depictions. Early pictures of Neptune underwent significant processing to enhance the visibility of clouds and winds.
The study, published in the journal Royal Astronomical Society, also sheds light on the reasons behind the slight color changes observed in Uranus during its 84-year orbital period around the Sun. The research shows that Uranus appears greener during solstices, when one of its poles is oriented toward the Sun, and bluer during equinoxes. These variations are attributed to the unique rotation of the planet and atmospheric changes.
Dr. Heidi Hammel from the Association of Universities involved in astronomical research emphasizes that these findings should put an end to long-standing questions about the true color of Neptune and the peculiar color changes observed in Uranus.