From The Archives: Crescent of Uranus Imaged By Voyager 2

The image on the cover of the March 3, 1986 issue shows a thin crescent of Uranus, visible as Voyager 2 passed behind the planet at a distance of 600,000 mi. on January 25, 1986. 

The pale blue-green color of the atmosphere is due to the presence of methane gas, which absorbs red wavelengths of light and leaves a blue hue. Lighter shades at the extreme edge are the result of high altitude haze. The wide-angle image has a resolution of 90 mi.

Voyager 2 was traveling toward Neptune for a 1989 flyby. 

See the front cover and read the full issue dated March 3, 1986. 

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