|
Credit & Copyright: X-ray Image:
R.Gladstone
(SwRI), et al.,
Optical Image: Cassini
Imaging Team, NASA
Explanation:
The Solar System's largest planet,
gas
giant Jupiter, is famous
for its swirling
Great Red Spot.
In the right hand panel above, the familiar giant planet with
storm system and
cloud bands is shown in an
optical image from the passing
Cassini spacecraft.
In the left hand panel, a false-color image from the
orbiting
Chandra
Observatory presents a corresponding x-ray view of Jupiter.
The Chandra image
shows clearly, for the first time, x-ray spots and
auroral x-ray emission
from the poles.
The x-ray spot dominating the emission from Jupiter's
north pole (top)
is perhaps as surprising for astronomers today as the Great Red Spot
once
was.
Confounding previous theories,
the x-ray spot is too far north to be
associated with heavy electrically charged particles
from
the vicinity of volcanic moon Io.
Chandra data also show that the spot's
x-ray
emission mysteriously pulsates over a period of about 45 minutes.
|
January February March April May June July August September October November December |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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: Jupiter - aurora - magnetic field
Publications with words: Jupiter - aurora - magnetic field
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