SwRI finally cracked the puzzle of Uranus’s decade old radiation readings

Voyager detected intense radiation around Uranus during 1986 flyby. (Image: Southwest Research Institute)

A long-standing puzzle about Uranus’s radiation belts is solved. Scientists have identified what likely caused Voyager’s strange 1986 readings. New research shows a solar wind burst may explain the mystery. This finding reshapes understanding of magnetospheres across our solar neighbourhood.

Voyager detected intense radiation around Uranus during 1986 flyby. The readings surprised scientists studying distant icy planetary systems. Uranus showed electron belts far stronger than experts previously predicted. The cause remained unknown for almost four long scientific decades.

Scientists reanalysed Voyager data using modern space weather knowledge. They compared Uranus findings with recent research from Earth. This allowed deeper insight into magnetospheric behaviour across planets. The team searched for conditions matching Voyager’s unusual observations.

Researchers suspect a fast solar wind structure reached Uranus. This structure is called a co-rotating interaction region. It can generate strong electromagnetic waves in planetary environments. Such waves may rapidly accelerate electrons to extreme energies.

Scientists previously believed those waves removed trapped electrons. New studies reveal they can energise particles under specific conditions. This revision explains Uranus’s unexpectedly powerful radiation belts. It fits well with Voyager’s recorded patterns during the flyby.

The study solves a decades-old puzzle about Uranus radiation. It highlights universal processes shaping magnetospheres across many planets. Scientists stress the importance of investigating outer worlds further. New missions may transform understanding of distant planetary systems.

The finding improves understanding of hazardous environments near Uranus. It offers guidance for designing safer future spacecraft missions. Researchers say Uranus urgently deserves new detailed exploration soon. A dedicated orbiter could reveal long-term system changes clearly.