NASA’s Webb Telescope Reveals Stunning Auroras on Jupiter

An awe-inspiring image from the James Webb Space Telescope showcases Jupiter’s auroras, which are hundreds of times more luminous than those seen on Earth.

The largest planet in our solar system features a dazzling light show when high-energy particles from space collide with atmospheric gas atoms near its magnetic poles.

Both Jupiter’s auroras and Earth’s northern and southern lights are fueled by high-energy particles released by the sun during solar storms. Notably, Jupiter’s powerful magnetic field also captures particles expelled by the large volcanoes on its moon, intensifying its luminous display.

Webb has previously unveiled intricate details of Neptune’s vibrant auroras, which were first faintly detected during a Voyager 2 flyby decades ago.

The Webb Telescope employs a specialized near-infrared camera to capture the rapid features of these auroras.

This planetary research was conducted on December 25th, 2023, by a team of scientists led by Jonathan Nichols from the University of Leicester in the UK. Their findings were published in the journal Nature Communications today.