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Several Faces of the Planet Neptune at Each Epoch: 1996, 1998 and 2002
These individual color composite images used Hubble blue, green and red filters. Each image component was also processed to reduce limb darkening and enhance contrast, and is a blend of several images taken at different longitudes. The images for each year were processed the same as for other years so that relative temporal changes are meaningful. The first four columns display views at 0, 1/4, 1/2, and 3/4 rotations, to show the distributions of features. The last column displays the longitudinal average, showing that latitude bands near 30 S, 45 S, and 67 S, have increased dramatically in brightness.
About the Object
- DistanceDistanceThe physical distance from Earth to the astronomical object. Distances within our solar system are usually measured in Astronomical Units (AU). Distances between stars are usually measured in light-years. Interstellar distances can also be measured in parsecs.The semi-major axis of Neptune's orbit about the Sun is 30.06 Astronomical Units (A.U.) or roughly 4.5 billion km.
- DimensionsDimensionsThe physical size of the object or the apparent angle it subtends on the sky.The planet has a diameter of roughly 30,800 miles (49,600 km) at the equator.
About the Data
- Data DescriptionData DescriptionProposal: A description of the observations, their scientific justification, and the links to the data available in the science archive.
Science Team: The astronomers who planned the observations and analyzed the data. "PI" refers to the Principal Investigator.These data are from HST proposals 6650, 7324 and 9393. The science team includes: L. A. Sromovsky, P. M. Fry, and S. S. Limaye (University of Wisconsin-Madison's Space Science and Engineering Center), and K. Baines (JPL).
- InstrumentInstrumentThe science instrument used to produce the data.HST>WFPC2
- Exposure DatesExposure DatesThe date(s) that the telescope made its observations and the total exposure time.August 13-14, 1996; August 11-12, 1998, and August 9-10, 2002
- FiltersFiltersThe camera filters that were used in the science observations.F467M (Strömgren b), F673N ([S II]), and F850LP (9650Å)
- Object NameObject NameA name or catalog number that astronomers use to identify an astronomical object.Neptune
- Object DescriptionObject DescriptionThe type of astronomical object.Planet
- Release DateMay 15, 2003
- Science ReleaseBrighter Neptune Suggests a Planetary Change of Seasons
- CreditNASA, L. Sromovsky, and P. Fry (University of Wisconsin-Madison)
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Springtime on Neptune: Increased Brightness Shows Seasonal Change
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Last Updated
Mar 28, 2025
Contact
Media
Claire Andreoli
NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center
Greenbelt, Maryland
claire.andreoli@nasa.gov
