All posts tagged: Jupiters

Juno Mission Sheds Light on Jupiter’s Storms and Volcanic Activity on Io

Juno Mission Sheds Light on Jupiter’s Storms and Volcanic Activity on Io

Published by Webster

NASA’s Juno mission has discovered a world of cyclones at Jupiter’s north Jovian pole, a region of cooler stratospheric haze. The cyclones drift to the pole through a process the researchers refer to as “beta drift” via JunoCam and Jovian Infrared Aurora Mapper. The cyclones oscillate around their centres and can drift clockwise around the pole. Juno has also been making recurring flybys of the innermost Jovian moon, Io, revealing evidence of subterranean magma flows below its surface. These cooling flows could explain how Io’s volcanoes erupt, as about 10% of the moon’s subsurface has these flows. Juno Spots Colliding Jupiter Cyclones and Magma Beneath Io’s Surface As per the data presented by NASA at the European Geosciences Union General Assembly on April 29, Juno has observed a large central cyclone over 1,800 miles wide, encircled by eight slightly smaller cyclones. These weather systems, blowing at speeds over 100 miles per hour, interact through a phenomenon called beta drifts — similar to Earth’s cyclones but progressing to Jupiter’s pole. Once enabled, researchers could visualise both visible …

New Study Reveals How Jupiter’s Storms Hide Ammonia

New Study Reveals How Jupiter’s Storms Hide Ammonia

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Jupiter’s weather just got even stranger. A new study published in the Journal Science Advances revealed that the gas giant’s turbulent thunderstorms create massive, softball-sized hailstones called “mushballs,” made of ammonia and water ice. These violent storms churn Jupiter’s atmosphere so deeply that they may explain a long-standing mystery among the scientists: the missing ammonia in the planet’s upper layers. For years, scientists were puzzled over why deep pockets of ammonia seemed absent across Jupiter’s atmosphere. Mushballs Shake Up Old Assumptions As per a report by LiveScience, Scientists believed Jupiter’s atmosphere was well mixed, much like a pot of boiling water. However, after analysing a massive 2017 storm captured by Juno, researchers found that even local storms can punch ammonia deep into the planet, shattering the old assumption. “The top of the atmosphere is actually a pretty poor representation of what the whole planet looks like,” explained study lead author Chris Moeckel from the University of California, Berkeley, told the publication. On April 15, 2025, as per EarthSky, his team’s findings suggest that the atmosphere …

Amateur Astronomer Discovers Unexpected Composition of Jupiter’s Clouds

Amateur Astronomer Discovers Unexpected Composition of Jupiter’s Clouds

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Jupiter’s atmospheric composition has been called into question through observations made using an old technique by an amateur astronomer, Steve Hill. The findings have indicated that the planet’s iconic swirling clouds may not be composed of ammonia ice, as previously assumed. This revelation stems from data collected with commercial telescopes and spectral filters, presenting new perspectives on the gas giant’s atmospheric dynamics and chemistry. The observations have sparked further investigation into the structure of Jupiter‘s cloud layers. Findings from Observational Studies According to research published in Earth and Space Science, Hill applied a method known as band-depth analysis. This technique measures light absorption at specific wavelengths to map the abundance of gases like ammonia and methane in Jupiter’s atmosphere. As reported by space.com, the data revealed that reflective cloud layers are located at pressure levels of 2-3 bar, far deeper than where ammonia ice was expected to condense at 0.7 bar. Patrick Irwin, a planetary physicist at the University of Oxford, reviewed Hill’s results and confirmed their accuracy through comparisons with data from instruments such …

Jupiter’s Moon Io Shows No Magma Ocean as New Findings Explain Volcanic Eruptions

Jupiter’s Moon Io Shows No Magma Ocean as New Findings Explain Volcanic Eruptions

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Recent research, published in Nature, has raised questions about the volcanic processes occurring on Jupiter’s moon Io, particularly regarding the absence of a global magma ocean beneath its surface. Data collected by NASA’s Juno spacecraft, combined with historical information from the Galileo mission, suggest that Io’s interior is more solid than previously believed. This revelation has implications not only for Io but also for our understanding of tidal heating in other celestial bodies. Juno and Galileo Findings Reveal a Solid Interior Scientists, led by Ryan Park from NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory, have analysed data from Juno’s close fly-bys of Io, conducted between December 2023 and February 2024, as per reports. These measurements, alongside archival data from Galileo, focused on Io’s gravitational field and its deformation under Jupiter’s intense gravitational pull. It was found that Io’s rigidity rules out the possibility of a moon-wide ocean of molten rock. Previous theories, based on magnetic induction data and the distribution of volcanic activity, had suggested such an ocean might exist to facilitate the movement of heat beneath Io’s …

Jupiter’s Earth-Sized Storms Might Be Caused by Magnetic Tornadoes, Study Claims

Jupiter’s Earth-Sized Storms Might Be Caused by Magnetic Tornadoes, Study Claims

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Magnetic vortices descending from Jupiter’s ionosphere into its deep atmosphere are believed to trigger the formation of ultraviolet-absorbing anticyclonic storms, according to a study published on November 26 in Nature Astronomy. These storms, appearing as dark ovals, span the size of Earth and have been observed primarily in Jupiter’s polar regions. The phenomenon was first detected in ultraviolet (UV) light by the Hubble Space Telescope in the 1990s and later confirmed by NASA’s Cassini spacecraft in 2000. Research Unveils Tornado Dynamics The study, published in the Nature journal, was led by Troy Tsubota, an undergraduate researcher at the University of California, Berkeley, in collaboration with Michael Wong from UC Berkeley, Amy Simon of NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, and others. The findings suggest these dark ovals are formed by swirling magnetic tornadoes generated due to friction between Jupiter’s immense magnetic field lines and those in its ionosphere. These tornadoes are thought to stir aerosols, creating dense patches of UV-absorbing haze in the stratosphere. The Role of the Io Plasma Torus The study highlights that Jupiter’s magnetic …

NASA Europa Clipper Advances Toward Jupiter’s Moon, Instruments Successfully Deployed

NASA Europa Clipper Advances Toward Jupiter’s Moon, Instruments Successfully Deployed

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NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft, launched on October 14, 2024, is now moving at 35 kilometres per second and has travelled more than 13 million miles from Earth as reported by NASA. Designed for an ambitious mission to study Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa, the spacecraft is expected to arrive in the Jupiter system in 2030. Following its arrival, the mission will embark on a series of 49 close flybys of Europa to gather data on the moon’s subsurface ocean and assess its potential to support life. Spacecraft’s Instruments Undergo Deployment and Testing After its deployment from a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket, the Europa Clipper’s vast solar arrays—each stretching the length of a basketball court—were successfully extended, NASA revealed. The magnetometer boom, a 28-foot (8.5-metre) component designed to measure Europa’s magnetic field, was also deployed. This will help scientists examine the depth and salinity of the ocean thought to lie beneath Europa’s icy shell. Subsequent stages included the deployment of several radar antennas, which will aid in examining Europa’s ice layer. According to Jordan Evans, the Europa …

NASA’s Juno Probe Captures Stunning Views of Jupiter’s Storms and Moon Amalthea

NASA’s Juno Probe Captures Stunning Views of Jupiter’s Storms and Moon Amalthea

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NASA’s Juno spacecraft has delivered breathtaking images of Jupiter, highlighting the planet’s swirling, multicoloured storms and unique moons. During Juno’s 66th close flyby on October 23, the spacecraft approached the planet’s polar regions and captured close-up views of its fifth-largest moon, Amalthea. The raw images collected by JunoCam have since been processed by citizen scientists, who enhanced colours and contrasts to reveal Jupiter’s atmospheric details in a new light. Spectacular Details of Jupiter’s Storms Revealed Citizen scientist Jackie Branc processed one of Juno’s most striking images, showcasing a region on Jupiter called a Folded Filamentary Region (FFR), located near the planet’s subpolar areas. FFRs are known for their complex cloud patterns, which include white billows and fine, thread-like filaments. This recent image captures Jupiter’s stormy atmosphere with an emphasis on these fine details, giving scientists and the public alike a vivid view of the planet’s dynamic weather systems. Juno’s data, available to the public online, allows enthusiasts and researchers to adjust image features such as contrast and colour balance. This collaborative effort has enabled a …

NASA is Sending Europa Clipper to Search for Aliens Near Jupiter’s Moon

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In the next few weeks, NASA will embark on a significant mission to Europa, the fourth-largest moon of Jupiter. Named Europa Clipper, this spacecraft is designed to search for potential signs of life. While Mars is often the focal point in the quest for life beyond Earth, Europa presents a promising alternative due to its potential liquid water, which is considered essential for life as we understand it. Although delays have occurred due to Hurricane Milton, NASA’s plan to launch the mission remains intact. Why Europa Holds Potential for Life Mars may be the easiest target to explore for life, but Europa, along with some of Saturn’s moons, could be better candidates. Liquid water is crucial for life, and on Earth, it supports the chemical reactions that allow living organisms to exist. Scientists believe that Europa, like Saturn’s moons Titan and Enceladus, has vast subsurface oceans beneath its icy exterior. This possibility makes Europa a compelling target for the search for extraterrestrial life. What the Europa Clipper Will Do Equipped with nine sophisticated instruments, the …

NASA Europa Clipper Mission to Launch on October 10, Will Study Jupiter’s Icy Moon Europa

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NASA‘s Europa Clipper mission is on track for its scheduled October 10 launch, aiming to explore Jupiter’s icy moon, Europa. Scientists believe Europa could be one of the most promising places to find the conditions for life beyond Earth. The spacecraft will travel 1.8 billion miles (2.9 billion kilometres) to study whether the moon’s icy surface hides a vast ocean beneath, which could harbour the right conditions for life. The mission, however, faces challenges due to intense radiation around Jupiter. Mission preparations and potential challenges NASA’s Europa Clipper will launch aboard a SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. Despite concerns over some defective transistors on the spacecraft, the mission remains on schedule. The spacecraft will arrive at Jupiter in April 2030 and conduct 49 flybys of Europa, gathering scientific data about the moon’s environment. Jordan Evans, Project Manager at NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), told Space.com that intense radiation around Jupiter is a significant challenge. The spacecraft will be exposed to radiation levels equivalent to millions of chest X-rays during each flyby. The …