Uranus Ring System Target Name:   Uranus Spacecraft:   Voyager 2 Produced by:   Calvin J. Hamilton Copyright:  © Calvin J. Hamilton Date Released:  7 August 2001 (Publisher Permission Request)

• Uranus

This dramatic Voyager 2 picture reveals a continuous distribution of small particles throughout the Uranian ring system. Voyager took this image while in the shadow of Uranus, at a distance of 236,000 kilometers (142,000 miles) and a resolution of about 33 kilometers (20 miles). This unique geometry, the highest phase angle at which Voyager imaged the rings, makes the lanes of fine dust particles visible. All the previously known rings are visible here; however, some of the brightest features in the image are bright dust lanes not previously seen. The combination of this unique geometry and a long, 96 second exposure allowed this spectacular observation. The image was acquired through the clear filter of Voyager's wide-angle camera. The long exposure produced a noticeable, non-uniform smear as well as streaks due to trailed stars.

This image is Copyright © 2001 by Calvin J. Hamilton. Any commercial/for-profit use of this image needs to be addressed to Calvin J. Hamilton.