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A study by researchers at the University of Houston has provided new insights into Uranus's energy dynamics, revealing that the planet emits more heat than it receives from the Sun. This finding suggests that Uranus retains internal heat from its formation, resolving a long-standing scientific debate.
The research, led by Xinyue Wang, a former doctoral student at UH’s Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, utilized decades of spacecraft observations and computer models. The team discovered that Uranus releases more heat than it absorbs from sunlight. "This means it’s still slowly losing leftover heat from its early history," Wang explained.
Published in Geophysical Research Letters on July 14, the study aligns with independent research by Professor Patrick Irwin's group at the University of Oxford. Unlike other giant planets like Jupiter and Saturn, Uranus emits about 12.5% more heat than it absorbs, which is significantly lower compared to other giants in our solar system.
Xun Jiang, co-author and professor at UH, noted that understanding Uranus's internal heat is crucial for future space exploration. Liming Li, another co-author and professor in UH’s Department of Physics, highlighted the potential impact on NASA’s planned mission to Uranus.
The study also examined how Uranus's energy levels change with its long seasons due to its off-center orbit and tilted spin. These findings could enhance planning for NASA’s flagship mission to probe Uranus and offer testable theories applicable to other planets' radiant energy studies.
"By uncovering how Uranus stores and loses heat," Li said, "we gain valuable insights into the fundamental processes that shape planetary atmospheres."