NASA Takes Advantage of Planetary Alignment to Take a Peek at Uranus

Uranus, an intriguing ice giant, experienced a rare alignment as it passed in front of a distant star on April 7, offering NASA scientists a unique opportunity to study its atmosphere and features through stellar occultation. This event provided critical data, including temperature, density, and pressure at various altitudes, marking the first large-scale collaborative observation by NASA. By studying this phenomenon, insights were gained into Uranus's rings, atmospheric turbulence, and orbital position, enhancing our understanding of its dynamics despite Voyager 2's limitations in precisely locating it beyond a 100-mile margin.