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Range : 4.1 million km. ( 2.5 million miles ) P-29466B/W Voyager 2 has discovered two 'shepard' satellites associated with the rings of Uranus. The two moons, designated 1986U7 and 1986U8, are seen here on either side of the bright Epsilon Ring. All nine of the known Uranian rings are visible here. The image was proccessed to enhance narrow features. The Epsilon Ring appears surrounded by a dark halo as a result of this proccessing. Occasional blips seen on the ring are also artifacts. Lying inward from the Epsilon Ring are the Delta, Gamma, and Eta Rings; then the Beta abd Alpha Rings; and finally, the barely visible 4, 5, and 6 Rings. The rings have been studied since their discovery in 1977, through observations of how they diminish the light of stars they pass in front of. This image is the first direct observationn of all nine rings in reflected sunlight. They range in width from about 100 km. (60 mi.) at the widest part of the Epsilon Ring to only a few kilometers for most of the others. The discovery of the two ring moons 1986U7 and 1986U8 is a major advance in our understanding of the structure of the Uranian rings and is in good agreement with theoretical predictions of how these narrow rings are kept from spreading out. Based on likely surface brightness properties, the moons are of roughly 20 and 30 km. diameter, respectively. ARC-1981-A86-7006

Range : 4.1 million km. ( 2.5 million miles ) P-29466B/W Voyager 2 ha...

Range : 4.1 million km. ( 2.5 million miles ) P-29466B/W Voyager 2 has discovered two 'shepard' satellites associated with the rings of Uranus. The two moons, designated 1986U7 and 1986U8, are seen here on ei... More

Range : 36 million km. ( 22 million miles ) P-29426B/W This Voyager 2 photograph of Uranus shows the is the first picture to show clear evidence of latitudinal banding in the planet's atmosphere. This is a computerized summation of five images shot by the narrow angle camera. The concentric pattern emanates like a bulls-eye from the planets pole of rotation, which, in this view, lies left of center. uranus lies almost on its side with respect to the other planets and is rotating in a counter clockwise direction, as seen here. Clouds in the Uranian atmosphere give rise to the pattern, the first clear evidence of banding similiar to that seen previosly on Saturn and Jupiter. The bandind on Uranus, however, shows much less contrast. At the distance at which the images were acquired, Voyager's camera could have detected individual features as small as 660 km. (410 miles) across, but no such cloud or markings were apparent. Scientists cannot yet say what properties, such as cloud height, composition, or particle size, are giving rise to the varying levels of brightness visible here. The images composing this picture were shot through a filter that transmits only violet light. in the original, unprocessed images, the contrast of features producing the banding is low, not more than 10 percent. In order to reduce 'noise' and enhance the visiblity of the features, processors combined five images and then compared the resulting composite to a hypothetical featureless planet illuminated by the Sun from the proper direction. Only the ratio between the original data and the hypothetical image is shown. ARC-1985-A86-7002

Range : 36 million km. ( 22 million miles ) P-29426B/W This Voyager 2...

Range : 36 million km. ( 22 million miles ) P-29426B/W This Voyager 2 photograph of Uranus shows the is the first picture to show clear evidence of latitudinal banding in the planet's atmosphere. This is a c... More

Range : 2.77 million miles (1.72 million miles) resolution : 51 km. (32 mi.) P-29495C This Voyager 2 photograph of the outermost Uranian satellite, Oberon is a computer reconstruction of three frames , exposed through the narrow angle camera's blue, green, and orange filters. the grayness or apparent lack of strong color is a distinctive characteristic of the satellites and the rings of Uranus and can serve as one indicator of the possible composition of the satellites' surfaces. Oberon has a diameter of about 1,600 km. (1,000 mi.) and orbits the planet at a radial distance of 586,000 km. (364,000 mi.). Oberon's surface displays areas of lighter and darker material, probably associated in part with impact craters formed during its long exposure to bombardment by cosmic debris. Thr resolution of this particular image is not sufficient, however, to reveal with confidece the nature of these features. ARC-1986-AC86-7012

Range : 2.77 million miles (1.72 million miles) resolution : 51 km. (...

Range : 2.77 million miles (1.72 million miles) resolution : 51 km. (32 mi.) P-29495C This Voyager 2 photograph of the outermost Uranian satellite, Oberon is a computer reconstruction of three frames , expose... More

Range : 12.9 million miles (8.0 million miles) P-29468C This false color Voyager photograph of Uranus shows a discrete cloud seen as a bright streak near the planets limb. The cloud visible here is the most prominent feature seen in a series of Voyager images designed to track atmospheric motions. The occasional donut shaped features, including one at the bottom, are shadows cast by dust on the camera optics. The picture is a highly processed composite of three images. The processing necessary to bring out the faint features on the planet also brings out these camera blemishes. The three seperate images used where shot through violet, blue, and orange filters. Each color image showd the cloud to a different degree; because they were not exposed at the same time , the images were processed to provide a good spatial match. In a true color image, the cloud would be barely discernable; the false color helps to bring out additional details. The different colors imply variations in vertical structure, but as of yet it is not possible to be specific about such differences. One possiblity is that the uranian atmosphere may contain smog like constituents, in which case some color differences may represent differences in how these molecules are distributed. ARC-1986-AC86-7008

Range : 12.9 million miles (8.0 million miles) P-29468C This false col...

Range : 12.9 million miles (8.0 million miles) P-29468C This false color Voyager photograph of Uranus shows a discrete cloud seen as a bright streak near the planets limb. The cloud visible here is the most pro... More

4.17 million miles (2.59 million miles) Resolution : 40 km. (25mi.) P-29498C This false color, Voyager 2 composite view of all nine of Uranian rings was made from six 15 second exposures through the narrow angle camera. The special computer processing used to extract color information from the extremely dark and faint rings, causing the even fainter, pastel lines seen between the rings. Two images, each in the green, clear, & violet filters, were added together and averaged to find the proper color difference between the rings. the final image was made from these three color averages and represents an enhanced, false color view. The image shows that the brightest, or Epsilon ring, at top ,is neutral in color, with the fainter eight other rings showing color differences between them. moving down, toward, Uranus, we see the Delta, Gamma, & Eta rings in shades of blue and green; the Beta & Alpha rings in somewhat lighter tones; and then finally, a set of three, known simply as 4, 5, & 6 rings, in faint off-white tones. Scientists will use this color information to try to understand the nature and origin of the ring material. ARC-1986-AC86-7015

4.17 million miles (2.59 million miles) Resolution : 40 km. (25mi.) P...

4.17 million miles (2.59 million miles) Resolution : 40 km. (25mi.) P-29498C This false color, Voyager 2 composite view of all nine of Uranian rings was made from six 15 second exposures through the narrow an... More

Range : 2.52 million miles (1.56 million miles) Resolution : 47km. ( 29 mi.) Closest Approach: 127,000 km. (79,000 mi.) P-29479B/W This Voyager 2 image of the brightest Uranian satellite of the five largest, Ariel, was shot through a clear filter with the narrow angle camera. Ariel is about 1,300 km. ( 800 mi. )in diameter. This image shows several distinct bright areas that reflect nearly 45 % of the incident sunlight. On average, the satellite displays reflectivity of about 25-30 %. The bright areas are probably fresh water ice, perhaps excavated by impacts. the south pole of Ariel is slightly off center of the disk in this view. ARC-1986-A86-7010

Range : 2.52 million miles (1.56 million miles) Resolution : 47km. (...

Range : 2.52 million miles (1.56 million miles) Resolution : 47km. ( 29 mi.) Closest Approach: 127,000 km. (79,000 mi.) P-29479B/W This Voyager 2 image of the brightest Uranian satellite of the five largest, ... More

Range : 147,000 km. ( 91,000 mi. ) Resolution : 2.7 km. ( 1.7 mi. ) P-29524C this Voyager 2 color image of the Uranian satellite, Miranda is a composite of three shots taken through green, violet, and ultraviolet filters from the narrow angle camera. It is the best color image of Miranda returned to date. Miranda, just 480 km. (300 mi.) across, is the smallest of Uranus' five major satellites. Miranda's regional geologic provinces show very well in this view of the southern hemisphere. The dark and bright banded region, with its curvilinear traces, covers about half of the image. Higher resolution pictures taken later show many fault lines valleys and ridges parallel to these bands. Near the terminator (at right), another system of ridges and valleys abuts the banded terrain, while many impact craters pockmark the surface in this region. The largest of these are about 30 km. (20 mi.) in diameter. Many more lie in the range of 5 to 10 km. (3 to 6 mi.) in diameter ARC-1986-AC86-7040

Range : 147,000 km. ( 91,000 mi. ) Resolution : 2.7 km. ( 1.7 mi. ) ...

Range : 147,000 km. ( 91,000 mi. ) Resolution : 2.7 km. ( 1.7 mi. ) P-29524C this Voyager 2 color image of the Uranian satellite, Miranda is a composite of three shots taken through green, violet, and ultravi... More

P-29516 BW Range: 125, 000 kilometers (78,000 miles) Voyager 2's wide-angle camera captured this view of the outer part of the Uranian ring system just 11 minutes before passing though the ring plane. The resolution in this clear-filter view is slightly better than 9 km (6 mi). The brightest, outermost ring is known as epsilon. Interior to epsilon lie (from top) the newly discovered 10th ring of Uranus--designated 1986UR1 and barely visible here--and then the delta, gamma and eta rings. ARC-1986-A86-7032

P-29516 BW Range: 125, 000 kilometers (78,000 miles) Voyager 2's wide-...

P-29516 BW Range: 125, 000 kilometers (78,000 miles) Voyager 2's wide-angle camera captured this view of the outer part of the Uranian ring system just 11 minutes before passing though the ring plane. The resol... More

Range : 170,000 km. ( 105,000 mi. ) Resolution : 3 km. ( 2 mi. ) P-29523C This Voyager 2 photograph of the Uranian Moon Ariel, is the best quality to date. This view of Ariel's southern hemisphere is a composite of photographs taken through green, blue, and violet filters from the narrow angle camera. Most of the visible surface consists of relatively intensely cratered terrain transected by fault scarps and fault bounded valleys (graben). Some of the largest valleys, which can be seen near the terminator (at right), are partly filled with younger deposits that are less heavily cratered. Bright spots near the limb and toward are chiefly the rims of small craters. Most of the brightly rimmed craters are too small to be resolved here, although one about 30 km. (20 mi.) in diameter can be easily distiguished near the center. These bright-rim craters, thogh the youngest features on Ariel, probably have formed over a long span of geological tome. Although Ariel has a diameter of abou 1,200 km. ( 750 mi. ), it clearly experienced a great deal of geological activity in the past. ARC-1986-AC86-7039

Range : 170,000 km. ( 105,000 mi. ) Resolution : 3 km. ( 2 mi. ) P-2...

Range : 170,000 km. ( 105,000 mi. ) Resolution : 3 km. ( 2 mi. ) P-29523C This Voyager 2 photograph of the Uranian Moon Ariel, is the best quality to date. This view of Ariel's southern hemisphere is a compos... More

P-29521 BW Range: 557,000 kilometers ( 346, 000 miles) The southern hemisphere of Umbriel displays heavy cratering in this Voyager 2 image. This frame, taken through the clear-filter of Voyager's narrow-angle camera, is the most detailed image of Umbriel, with a resolution of about 10 km (6 mi). Umbriel is the darkest of Uranus' larger moons and the one that appears to have experienced the lowest level of geological activity. It has a diameter of about 1,200 km (750 mi) and reflects only 16 percent of the light striking its surface; in the latter respect, Umbriel is similiar to lunar highland areas. Umbriel is heavily cratered but lacks the numerous bright-ray craters seen on the other large Uranian satellites; this results in a relatively uniform surface albedo (reflectivity). The prominent crater on the terminator (upper right) is about 110 km (70 mi) across and has a bright central peak. The strangest feature in this image (at top) is a curious bright ring, the most reflective area seen on Umbriel. The ring is about 140 km (90 mi) in diameter and lies near the satellite's equator. The nature of the ring is not known, although it might be a frost deposit, perhaps associated with an impact crater. Spots against the black background are due to 'noise' in the data. ARC-1986-A86-7037

P-29521 BW Range: 557,000 kilometers ( 346, 000 miles) The southern he...

P-29521 BW Range: 557,000 kilometers ( 346, 000 miles) The southern hemisphere of Umbriel displays heavy cratering in this Voyager 2 image. This frame, taken through the clear-filter of Voyager's narrow-angle c... More

P-29514 BW Miranda reveals a complex geologic history in this view acquired by Voyager 2 around its closest approach to the Uranian moon. At least three terrain types of different age and geologic style are evident at this resolution of about 700 meters (2,300 feet). Visible in this clear-filter, narrow-angle image are from left: 1) an apparently ancient, cratered terrain consisting of rolling, subdued hills and degraded medium-sized craters; 2) a grooved terrain with linear valleys and ridges developed at the expense of, or replacing, the first terrain type; and 3) a complex terrain seen along the terminator, in which intersecting curvillinear ridges and troughs are abrubtly truncated by the linear, grooved terrain. Voyager scientists believe this third terrain type is intermediate in age between the first two. ARC-1986-A86-7030

P-29514 BW Miranda reveals a complex geologic history in this view acq...

P-29514 BW Miranda reveals a complex geologic history in this view acquired by Voyager 2 around its closest approach to the Uranian moon. At least three terrain types of different age and geologic style are evi... More

P-29508BW Range: 1.12 million kilometers (690,000 miles) This clear-filter view of the Uranian rings delta, gamma, eta, beta and alpha (from top) was taken with Voyager 2's narrow-angle camera and clearly illustrates the broad outer component and narrow inner component of the eta ring, which orbits Uranus at a radius of some 47,000 km (29,000 mi). The broad component is considerably more transparent than the dense, narrow inner eta component, as well as the other narrow rings shown. Resolution here is about 10 km (6 mi). ARC-1986-A86-7024

P-29508BW Range: 1.12 million kilometers (690,000 miles) This clear-fi...

P-29508BW Range: 1.12 million kilometers (690,000 miles) This clear-filter view of the Uranian rings delta, gamma, eta, beta and alpha (from top) was taken with Voyager 2's narrow-angle camera and clearly illus... More

P-29513 BW Range: 31,000 kilometers (19,000 miles) This Voyager 2 image of Miranda was taken shortly before the spacecraft's closet approach to the Uranian moon.The high resolution of 600 meters (2,000 feet) reveals a bewildering variety of fractures, grooves and craters, as well as features of different albedos (reflectances). This clear-filter, narrow-angle view encompasses areas of older, heavily cratered terrain with a wide variety of forms. The grooves and troughs reach depths of a few kilometers and expose materials of different albedos. The great variety of directions of fracture and troughs, and the different densities of impact craters on them, signify a long, complex geologic evolution of this satellite. ARC-1986-A86-7029

P-29513 BW Range: 31,000 kilometers (19,000 miles) This Voyager 2 imag...

P-29513 BW Range: 31,000 kilometers (19,000 miles) This Voyager 2 image of Miranda was taken shortly before the spacecraft's closet approach to the Uranian moon.The high resolution of 600 meters (2,000 feet) re... More

P-29509 C Range: 500,000 kilometers (300,000 miles) This high-resolution color composite of Titania was made as Voyager 2 neared its closest approach to Uranus. Voyager's narrow-angle camera acquired this image through the violet and clear filters and shows details about 9 km (6 mi) in size. Titania has a diameter of about 1,600 km (1,000 MI). In addition to many scars due to impacts, Titania displays evidence of other geologic activity at some point in its history. The large trench-like feature near the terminator (day-night boundary) at middle right suggests at least one episode of tectonic activity, Another, basinlike structure near the upper right is evidence of an ancient period of heavy impact activity. The neutral gray color of Titania is characteristic of the Uranian satellites as a whole. ARC-1986-AC86-7025

P-29509 C Range: 500,000 kilometers (300,000 miles) This high-resoluti...

P-29509 C Range: 500,000 kilometers (300,000 miles) This high-resolution color composite of Titania was made as Voyager 2 neared its closest approach to Uranus. Voyager's narrow-angle camera acquired this image... More

P-29509 BW Range: 500,000 kilometers (300,000 miles) This high-resolution image of Titania was made as Voyager 2 neared its closest approach to Uranus. Voyager's narrow-angle camera acquired this image through the violet and clear filters and shows details about 9 km (6 mi) in size. Titania has a diameter of about 1,600 km (1,000 MI). In addition to many scars due to impacts, Titania displays evidence of other geologic activity at some point in its history. The large trench-like feature near the terminator (day-night boundary) at middle right suggests at least one episode of tectonic activity, Another, basinlike structure near the upper right is evidence of an ancient period of heavy impact activity. The neutral gray color of Titania is characteristic of the Uranian satellites as a whole. ARC-1986-A86-7025

P-29509 BW Range: 500,000 kilometers (300,000 miles) This high-resolut...

P-29509 BW Range: 500,000 kilometers (300,000 miles) This high-resolution image of Titania was made as Voyager 2 neared its closest approach to Uranus. Voyager's narrow-angle camera acquired this image through... More

P-29515 BW Range: 42,000 kilometers (26,000 miles) This image of Miranda, obtained by Voyager 2 on approach, shows an unusual 'chevron' figure and regions of distinctly differing terrain on the Uranian moon. Grooved areas baring light and dark bands, distinct from other areas of mottled terrain, are visible at this resolution of about 600 meters (2,000 feet). The bright V-shaped feature in the grooved areas is the 'cheron' observed in earlier, lower-resolution images. Cutting across the bands are sinuous scarps, probably faults. Superimposed on both types of terrain are many bowl-shaped impact craters less than 5 km (3 mi) wide. The entire picture spans an area about 220 km (140 mi) across. ARC-1986-A86-7031

P-29515 BW Range: 42,000 kilometers (26,000 miles) This image of Miran...

P-29515 BW Range: 42,000 kilometers (26,000 miles) This image of Miranda, obtained by Voyager 2 on approach, shows an unusual 'chevron' figure and regions of distinctly differing terrain on the Uranian moon. Gr... More

P-34712 Range: 1.1 million kilometers (683,000 miles) This wide-angle Voyager 2 image, taken through the camera's clear filter, is the first to show Neptune's rings in detail. The two main rings, about 53,000 km (33,000 miles) and 63,000 km (39,000 miles) from Neptune, are 5 to 10 times brighter than in earlier images. The difference is due to lighting and viewing geometry. In approach images, the rings were seen in light scattered backward toward the spacecraft at a 15° phase angle. However, this image was taken at a 135° phase angle as Voyager left the planet. That geometry is ideal for detecting microscopic particles that forward scatter light preferentially. The fact that Neptune's rings are so much brighter at that angle means the particle-size distribution is quite different from most of Uranus' and Saturn's rings, which contain fewer dust-size grains. However, a few componenets of the Saturian and Uranian ring systems exhibit forward-scattering behavior: The F ring and the Encke Gap ringlet at Saturn and 1986U1R at Uranus. They are also narrow, clumpy ringlets with kinks, and are associated with nearby moonlets too small to detect directly. In this image, the main clumpy arc, composed of three features each about 6 to 8 degrees long, is clearly seen. Exposure time for this image was 111 seconds. ARC-1989-A89-7039

P-34712 Range: 1.1 million kilometers (683,000 miles) This wide-angle ...

P-34712 Range: 1.1 million kilometers (683,000 miles) This wide-angle Voyager 2 image, taken through the camera's clear filter, is the first to show Neptune's rings in detail. The two main rings, about 53,000 k... More