![]() This article was originally published on NBCNews. The tennis court-sized observatory is designed to study the early days after the Big Bang and help astronomers piece together how the modern universe came to be. The James Webb Space Telescope is a collaboration between NASA, the European Space Agency and the Canadian Space Agency. Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) images objects in the near-infrared. Only has Webb captured the clearest view of this distant planet’s rings in more than 30 years, but its cameras reveal the ice giant in a whole new light. This is the first time scientists have seen them in infrared. Unlike Jupiter and Saturn, the gas giants of the outer solar system, Neptune is richer in elements heavier than hydrogen and helium, according to NASA. The Webb telescope has captured Neptune’s rings. It’s also been showing off its capabilities closer to home with its first image of Neptune. ![]() Neptune is considered an "ice giant" because of its internal chemical composition. The James Webb Space Telescope isn’t just being used to capture stunning images of deep space. The planet's 164-year orbit takes it through some of the darkest and most remote regions of the outer solar system. Webb’s new data offers the clearest view of its rings captured since Voyager 2 flew past the icy planet in 1989. Neptune, the most distant major planet of our solar system, is the subject of much fascination. Neptune was discovered in 1846 and is located 30 times farther from the sun than Earth. In the latest James Webb Space Telescope image, viewers can see Neptune’s rarely glimpsed rings in awe-inspiring clarity. In one image, a bright blue feature that looks like a star is actually the moon Triton, which outshines Neptune because it is cloaked in a frozen layer of condensed nitrogen and reflects more sunlight than the planet and its atmosphere. Space New Neptune photos offer rare views of planet’s rings The James Webb Space Telescope’s images of the mysterious ice giant brought humanity a first infrared look at the rings. Most striking in Webb’s new image is the crisp view of the planet’s. Not only has Webb captured the clearest view of this distant planet’s rings in more than 30 years, but its cameras reveal the ice giant in a whole new light. They have a delicate, almost ghostly, glow against the inky backdrop of space. NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope shows off its capabilities closer to home with its first image of Neptune. A new infrared image, released September 21, shows the planet and its jewel-like headbands of dust. Several of Neptune's moons are also visible, including Galatea, Naiad, Thalassa, Despina, Larissa and Proteus. The rings of Neptune have emerged in a whole new light, thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope. Image: James Webb Space Telescope Neptune ( NASA, ESA, CSA, and STScI)
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