Currently, sci.esa.int is under review and not being updated. For the latest information and news from ESA science missions and scientific results, please visit esa.int. For a comprehensive overview of ESA’s Science Programme and its missions, please refer to science.esa.int. For in-depth technical information aimed at ESA's scientific communities, you may also wish to consult cosmos.esa.int.

Asset Publisher

Back Opposite Hemispheres of Neptune

Opposite Hemispheres of Neptune


Depicts: Neptune
Copyright: Lawrence A. Sromovsky (University of Wisconsin-Madison) and NASA

These views of Neptune, as seen through the Hubble Space Telescope, are helping planetary scientists gain some insight into the weird and wild weather that is a hallmark of the eighth planet from the sun. On Neptune, winds blow at 900 miles per hour and huge storms -- some the size of Earth itself -- come and go with regularity. How, precisely, Neptune's weather is driven is a mystery since the sun, which drives the Earth's weather, is 900 times dimmer there than on Earth. The bottom images show Neptune's Hubble portrait circa 1996. The top images were taken this year and help illustrate the dynamic weather features that dominate the planet.
Last Update: 1 September 2019
20-Jan-2026 21:29 UT

ShortUrl Portlet

Shortcut URL

https://sci.esa.int/s/8Om3D1w

Latest Selection

Also Available As

Related Images

Related Videos

Caption & Press Release

Related Publications

Related Links

See Also

Documentation