All Of Neptune's Clouds Have Vanished, Scientists Blame It On The Sun

The scientist said that the pattern somewhat matches up with the sun's 11-year cycle of activity.

All of Neptune's clouds have disappeared, astronomers announced this unexpected update on Thursday, August 17. For the first time in three decades, Neptune is almost completely cloud-free.

Scientists observed detailed images of the planet between the years 1994 and 2022, they noticed a strange pattern beginning in 2019. Around the planet's mid-latitudes, cloud coverage seemed to start fading. Eventually, all evidence of clouds totally vanished, Space.com reported.

Since 2019, scientists saw only one patch of wispy white drifting around the planet's south pole.