May 16, 2022
An international team of astronomers tracked Neptune’s temperatures over a period of 17 years and found an unexpected drop in the planet’s global temperatures followed by a considerable warming at its south pole. A year on Neptune lasts for 165 Earth years, while a season lasts for around 40 years. Since 2005, the southern hemisphere of Neptune has experienced summer.
According to data collected, the average temperature of Neptune dropped by 8°C between 2003 and 2018. A dramatic warming of Neptune’s south pole also surprised astronomers when temperatures rose 11°C between 2018 and 2020. Astronomers are not able to explain the reason for these fluctuations but they believe it could be caused by weather patterns, changes in Neptune’s stratospheric chemistry or the solar cycle.
Did You Know?
Neptune is the windiest planet in the solar system.
