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Credit & Copyright: J. Clarke (Univ. Michigan),
NASA
Explanation:
These two recently
released Hubble Space Telescope close-ups show the
Northern and Southern lights ...
on Jupiter.
Like aurora on Earth,
these Jovian
aurora are caused by charged particles
funneled into the atmosphere above the planet's North (right) and
South poles by
magnetic fields.
But Jupiter's magnetic field is extremely large and
ionized material expelled from
the volcanic moon Io
is trapped in it creating
light shows 1,000 times more intense than
Earth's auroral storms.
Charged particles released by Io are also funneled
along magnetic flux tubes which form a direct "bridge" to the Jovian
atmosphere.
The result is auroral hot spots - magnetic footprints 600 or more miles
across which race over
Jupiter's cloud tops.
A hot spot is visible in both images as a comet-like feature just
outside the polar auroral rings.
In these false color ultraviolet images, Jupiter's limb (edge)
appears dull brown while
the auroral displays
are shades of white and blue.
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: aurora - Jupiter
Publications with words: aurora - Jupiter
See also:
- APOD: 2024 December 8 Á Aurora around Saturns North Pole
- Stereo Jupiter near Opposition
- APOD: 2024 November 3 Á Jupiter Abyss
- APOD: 2024 October 16 Á Colorful Aurora over New Zealand
- APOD: 2024 October 13 Á Aurora Timelapse Over Italian Alps
- Northern Lights, West Virginia
- Aurora Australis and the International Space Station