The James Webb Space Telescope has delivered spectacular images from space. This time, of the "ice giant" Uranus.

An image from the James Webb Telescope's near-infrared camera reveals a sensational view of Uranus, the third largest planet in our solar system. Its rings have never before been so clearly visible.

NASA and the European Space Agency (ESA) released images showing 11 of the planet's 13 rings, as well as clouds and moons.

Some of Uranus' rings shine so brightly that when they are close together, they appear to merge into a larger ring.

The two fainter, dustier rings, like the Zeta ring closest to the planet, were not discovered until the Voyager 2 spacecraft flyby in 1986. Scientists expect further images will show the Zeta rings more clearly.

On the right side, there is a brightening at the sun-facing pole, the "polar cap", which NASA reports is a surprising aspect of it.

In the centre of the polar cap, a brightening can be seen that is only now becoming clearly visible due to the higher sensitivity of the space telescope and its longer wavelength.

A bright cloud can also be seen at the edge of the polar cap and some fainter, extended apparitions just beyond the edge of the polar cap. According to scientists, such clouds in the infrared range are typical for Uranus and likely related to storm activity.