Bruce Murray Space Image Library
Neptune from JWST
![Neptune from JWST](https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_1200x799_crop_center-center_82_line/neptune-from-jwst.jpg 1200w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_768x511_crop_center-center_82_line/neptune-from-jwst.jpg 768w, https://planetary.s3.amazonaws.com/web/assets/pictures/_576x383_crop_center-center_82_line/neptune-from-jwst.jpg 576w)
Neptune does not appear blue to JWST because its methane gas strongly absorbs near-infrared light. The planet is quite dark at JWST's wavelengths except where high-altitude clouds are present. These are visible in the as bright patches in the planet’s southern hemisphere. A thin line of brightness circling the planet’s equator could be a visual signature of global atmospheric circulation that powers Neptune’s winds and storms.