{"id":983,"date":"2026-04-22T10:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T10:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/?p=983"},"modified":"2026-04-22T10:00:00","modified_gmt":"2026-04-22T10:00:00","slug":"mysterious-rings-around-uranus-indicate-hidden-moons-orbiting-the-ice-giant","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/?p=983","title":{"rendered":"Mysterious rings around Uranus indicate hidden moons orbiting the ice giant"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><\/p>\n<div id=\"article-body\">\n<p id=\"elk-2fddb640-5b8a-4f6d-beff-80862d432158\">New observations of Uranus&#8217; mysterious outer rings show they are even more mysterious than astronomers thought, and their unusual properties hint at some mysterious events occurring in the planet&#8217;s satellite system.<\/p>\n<p>These observations suggest that small, mysterious moons with surprisingly different properties are the source of the particles that make up the two outermost rings, and that there are probably more undiscovered moons around Uranus in addition to the 29 already known moons.<\/p>\n<aside data-block-type=\"embed\" data-render-type=\"fte\" data-skip=\"dealsy\" data-widget-type=\"seasonal\" class=\"hawk-root\"\/>\n<p id=\"elk-2fddb640-5b8a-4f6d-beff-80862d432158-2\" class=\"paywall\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><u>Uranus<\/u>The ring differs in bright and complex structure. <u>Saturn<\/u>famous ring. Quite the opposite. Uranus&#8217; rings were first discovered in 1977, when they were found to block out background light. <u>star<\/u> During a stellar occultation, when Uranus is seen moving in front of the star from our perspective <u>earth<\/u>.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold&#10;        \"><\/p>\n<p>            you may like<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p id=\"elk-efeefc4e-a87c-4e9c-844e-4c47aaa79df9\"><u>voyager 2<\/u> The first images of Uranus&#8217; rings were captured as it passed the seventh planet. <u>solar<\/u> Since January 1986 <u>hubble space telescope<\/u> And a 10 meter telescope <u>WM Keck Observatory<\/u> More faint rings have been discovered around the ice giant on Hawaii&#8217;s Mauna Kea, bringing the total to 13. These rings are named after the Greek alphabet, and the last two outermost rings (\ud835\udecd) and nu (\ud835\udece) weren&#8217;t discovered until the 2003-2005 observation period by a team led by Mark Showalter at the SETI Institute.<\/p>\n<p>Mulling and Newling are particularly puzzling. These initial observations showed that Mulling was bluer than Newling, which was reddish. Color helps determine its composition. Blue indicates very small particles and red indicates dust. Mullings and newlings seem to have very different origins, but no one knew what their origins were.<\/p>\n<p>Now, by adding the infrared data from <u>james webb space telescope<\/u> Building on old Hubble and Keck observations, Showalter and a team led by Imke de Pater at the University of California, Berkeley, were able to generate the first complete reflectance spectrum of the ring, showing how it reflects sunlight. The spectrum confirmed the color and gave some indication of its origin.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;By deciphering the light from these rings, we can track both their grain size distribution and composition, thereby revealing their origins and providing new insights into how the Uranus system and similar planets formed and evolved,&#8221; de Peyter said in the paper. <u>statement<\/u>.<\/p>\n<div id=\"slice-container-newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-fDi9QfGcctmKfwaYwQfhG\" class=\"slice-container newsletter-inbodyContent-slice newsletterForm-articleInbodyContent-fDi9QfGcctmKfwaYwQfhG slice-container-newsletterForm\">\n<div data-hydrate=\"true\" class=\"newsletter-form__wrapper newsletter-form__wrapper--inbodyContent\">\n<div class=\"newsletter-form__container\">\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__top-bar\"\/>\n<section class=\"newsletter-form__main-section\">\n<p class=\"newsletter-form__strapline\">Breaking the latest in space news, rocket launches, skywatching events, and more.<\/p>\n<\/section>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-fd54bfff-a04f-4b93-8fd6-1b1c501acf97\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1024px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:53.71%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MJUQb66jz4uZHjDQUMh4oc-1024-80.png.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MJUQb66jz4uZHjDQUMh4oc-1024-80.png.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MJUQb66jz4uZHjDQUMh4oc-970-80.png.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MJUQb66jz4uZHjDQUMh4oc-650-80.png.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MJUQb66jz4uZHjDQUMh4oc-480-80.png.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/MJUQb66jz4uZHjDQUMh4oc-320-80.png.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Two views of Uranus&#8217; outermost rings taken by JWST in February 2025. In the image on the left, the brightness of Uranus and its main rings is reduced by a factor of 100. On the right, a high-pass filter is used to make the Mullings and Neurings easier to see. <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: NASA\/ESA\/Image processing: Imke de Pater, Matt Hedman)<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-32cc1872-b714-4d22-920e-0f52cc5b6364\">Uranus&#8217; moons are named after characters in William Shakespeare&#8217;s plays and poems by Alexander Pope, a conference started by John Herschel. Although the five large moons (Miranda, Oberon, Titania, Umbriel, and Ariel) orbit outside Uranus, the 14 smaller moons orbit closer to Uranus than these five moons, and it is among these 14 moons that Mulling and Newling are found.<\/p>\n<p>Reflectance spectra show that Mullings are made of water and ice particles. this is, <u>solar system<\/u>i.e., Saturn&#8217;s E ring produced by cryovolcanic activity on Saturn&#8217;s moons. <u>Enceladus<\/u>geyser water spews into space. The ice particles in Mulling can be traced back to an irregular 12-kilometer-wide (7.5-mile) moon called Mab discovered by Showalter in 2003. However, most of the other inner moons tend to be dustier and rockier. Why is most of Mab ice?<\/p>\n<p>New ring, on the other hand, is even dirtier, with 10% to 15% of its composition made up of carbon-rich organic compounds of the type typically found in the cold environments of the outer solar system. New rings are thought to be produced by dust thrown off from undiscovered moons within the inner moon group.<\/p>\n<aside data-component-name=\"Recirculation:ArticleRiver\" data-recirculation-type=\"inline\" data-mrf-recirculation=\"Trending Bar\" data-nosnippet=\"\" class=\"clear-both pb-0 pt-2 mb-4\">\n        <span class=\"&#10;            flex&#10;            after:content-[''] after:flex-1 after:ml-4 after:my-[0.7rem] after:border-t after:border-solid after:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            before:content-[''] before:flex-1 before:mr-4 before:my-[0.7rem] before:border-t before:border-solid before:border-t-[#ccc]&#10;            font-article-heading pb-0 !text-base uppercase sm:text-sm font-bold&#10;        \"><\/p>\n<p>            What to read next<br \/>\n        <\/span><\/p>\n<\/aside>\n<p>&#8220;The New Ring material comes from the impact of micrometeorites on and between invisible rock bodies rich in organic material, which must be orbiting between some of the known moons,&#8221; DePater said. &#8220;One interesting question is why the compositions of the matrices from which these rings are sourced are so different.&#8221;<\/p>\n<figure class=\"van-image-figure inline-layout\" data-bordeaux-image-check=\"\" id=\"elk-1cb51973-7780-4285-bd7f-c82e723931ef\">\n<div class=\"image-full-width-wrapper\">\n<div class=\"image-widthsetter\" style=\"max-width:1280px;\">\n<p class=\"vanilla-image-block\" style=\"padding-top:100.00%;\"> <picture data-new-v2-image=\"true\"><source type=\"image\/webp\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XD5si7WpxTsUoyapDxXzmi-1200-80.jpg.webp 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XD5si7WpxTsUoyapDxXzmi-1024-80.jpg.webp 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XD5si7WpxTsUoyapDxXzmi-970-80.jpg.webp 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XD5si7WpxTsUoyapDxXzmi-650-80.jpg.webp 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XD5si7WpxTsUoyapDxXzmi-480-80.jpg.webp 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XD5si7WpxTsUoyapDxXzmi-320-80.jpg.webp 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\"\/><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Mysterious-rings-around-Uranus-indicate-hidden-moons-orbiting-the-ice.jpg\" alt=\"Bright blue-white sphere surrounded by rings of light and bright dots on a pitch black background\" srcset=\"https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XD5si7WpxTsUoyapDxXzmi-1200-80.jpg 1200w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XD5si7WpxTsUoyapDxXzmi-1024-80.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XD5si7WpxTsUoyapDxXzmi-970-80.jpg 970w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XD5si7WpxTsUoyapDxXzmi-650-80.jpg 650w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XD5si7WpxTsUoyapDxXzmi-480-80.jpg 480w, https:\/\/cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net\/XD5si7WpxTsUoyapDxXzmi-320-80.jpg 320w\" sizes=\"(min-width: 1000px) 970px, calc(100vw - 40px)\" loading=\"lazy\" data-new-v2-image=\"true\" data-original-mos=\"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Mysterious-rings-around-Uranus-indicate-hidden-moons-orbiting-the-ice.jpg\" data-pin-media=\"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/Mysterious-rings-around-Uranus-indicate-hidden-moons-orbiting-the-ice.jpg\" class=\"inline\"\/>\n<\/picture><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div><figcaption itemprop=\"caption description\" class=\" inline-layout\"><span class=\"caption-text\">Uranus&#8217; inner moons including Mab (top) <\/span><span class=\"credit\" itemprop=\"copyrightHolder\">(Image credit: NASA\/ESA\/CSA\/STScI\/M. El Moutamid (SWRI)\/M. Hedman (University of Idaho))<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p id=\"elk-a0bfd4a7-3687-4aa9-8083-ccaea7ffce9b\">There are hints that Mulling&#8217;s brightness is changing subtly, but we don&#8217;t yet understand what this clue is telling us. But given the small size and brightness of these tiny moons, it seems that solving the mysteries of Uranus and its ring and moon system will have to wait for a new mission.<\/p>\n<p>&#8220;I think we&#8217;ll need close-up images from future Uranus spacecraft missions to answer that question,&#8221; Showalter said.<\/p>\n<p>fortunately <u>mission<\/u> Returning to Uranus was the planet&#8217;s top priority in the National Academy of Sciences&#8217; most recent decadal study, so it is currently in development with funding approval.<\/p>\n<p>The study results were published in the journal April 16th. <u>Geophysical Research Journal: Planets<\/u>.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<p>#Mysterious #rings #Uranus #hidden #moons #orbiting #ice #giant<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>New observations of Uranus&#8217; mysterious outer rings show they are even more mysterious than astronomers thought, and their unusual properties hint at some mysterious events occurring in the planet&#8217;s satellite system. These observations suggest that small, mysterious moons with surprisingly different properties are the source of the particles that make up the two outermost rings, &#8230; <a title=\"Mysterious rings around Uranus indicate hidden moons orbiting the ice giant\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/?p=983\" aria-label=\"Read more about Mysterious rings around Uranus indicate hidden moons orbiting the ice giant\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":984,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[557,904,891,2409,2408,2410,2028,2026],"class_list":["post-983","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-giant","tag-hidden","tag-ice","tag-moons","tag-mysterious","tag-orbiting","tag-rings","tag-uranus"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/983","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=983"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/983\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/984"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=983"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=983"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/hyokal.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=983"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}