Neptune’s_Disappearing Clouds Linked to the Solar Cycle

The phenomenon of Neptune's disappearing clouds is thought to be linked to the solar cycle. Observations suggest that during periods of increased solar activity, the planet's stratosphere warms up, causing the methane ice crystals in its clouds to sublimate into gas. This leads to a reduction in cloud cover. Conversely, during times of lower solar activity, the stratosphere cools, allowing clouds to form again. This intriguing correlation between Neptune's cloud behavior and the solar cycle continues to be an area of study in planetary science.