Jupiter from the Stratosphere
Explanation:
SOFIA, the
Stratospheric Observatory for Infrared
Astronomy, captured
its "first light" images on May 26, from an altitude of 35,000 feet.
While flying above
most of planet Earth's infrared-absorbing
water vapor, SOFIA's premier infrared views of the cosmos included
this
remarkable false-color image (right panel) of Jupiter.
For comparison, on the left is a
recent, ground-based visible light image.
Both show our solar system's
ruling
gas giant without its
dark southern equatorial belt (normally seen in the upper hemisphere in
this orientation).
That familiar feature
faded from view early in May.
But the bright white stripe in SOFIA's image is a region
of Jupiter's clouds transparent to infrared light, offering
a glimpse below the
cloud tops.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
