Images from NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope, captured via its Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), have provided unprecedented details of Jupiter in infrared light. The images illuminate the planet’s higher altitudes through varying brightness levels. Prominent white marks and lines are believed to represent elevated cloud tops formed from intense convective storms. Additionally, auroras are visible at higher latitudes over both the planet’s northern and southern poles, while the darker bands situated north of Jupiter’s equator signify reduced cloud coverage. The credit for this data goes to multiple space agencies and a team of researchers including Ricardo Hueso (UPV), Imke de Pater (UC Berkeley), Thierry Fouchet (Observatory of Paris), Leigh Fletcher (University of Leicester), Michael H. Wong (UC Berkeley), and Joseph DePasquale (STScI).
Researchers have identified a fast-moving jet stream near Jupiter’s equator, with wind speeds reaching up to 320 miles per hour.
Jupiter is famous for its striking atmospheric elements, such as the Great Red Spot, which is of a size capable of encompassing Earth. Despite its familiarity, Jupiter remains a dynamic and complex planet with much still left to be discovered.
The James Webb Space Telescope is significantly contributing to the exploration of Jupiter’s enigmatic features, including a newly detected, high-speed jet stream over the planet’s equator. Although not as visually captivating as some other elements on Jupiter, this jet stream offers invaluable knowledge about the interactions between the various atmospheric layers of the planet, as well as how future studies will be facilitated by the telescope’s capabilities.
The researchers used the NIRCam at a wavelength of 2.12 microns to study areas roughly 12-21 miles (20-35 kilometers) above the main cloud layers. This led to the discovery of wind shears, facilitating the identification and tracking of the jet stream. The new data reveal that the motion of this jet stream has a considerable influence on the features around the equatorial region during one full rotation of the planet, which lasts 10 hours.
Ricardo Hueso, the lead author of the paper from the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao, Spain, expressed that what were previously considered as vague mists in the planet’s atmosphere now appear as sharply defined features thanks to the new images.
Concerning its imaging capabilities, the research team made use of Webb’s NIRCam in July 2022 through the Early Release Science program. The program, co-managed by Imke de Pater and Thierry Fouchet, was set up to take pictures at intervals of 10 hours, equivalent to one Jupiter day, utilizing four distinct filters. Each filter is specially designed to detect minor changes at varying altitudes of the planet’s atmosphere.
Even though numerous ground-based telescopes and other spacecrafts, including NASA’s Juno and Cassini, as well as the Hubble Space Telescope, have monitored Jupiter’s atmosphere, Webb’s novel observations have been unique in illuminating new aspects of the planet, according to de Pater.
Both Earth and Jupiter have stratified atmospheres. Yet, while they are dissimilar in many aspects, the new telescope is sensitively capturing data from higher layers of Jupiter’s atmosphere than what has been possible before. Webb’s enhanced sensitivity to the near-infrared spectrum has allowed for greater detail within the planet’s atmosphere.
The newly detected jet stream has wind speeds clocking in at around 320 miles per hour (515 kilometers per hour) and is situated approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) above the cloud tops in Jupiter’s lower stratosphere. Webb’s capabilities, combined with observations from the Hubble Space Telescope, provided a holistic understanding of the wind patterns at varying altitudes.
The researchers are keen on future observations to explore the temporal variations of this newly discovered jet stream.
The published research appears in the journal Nature Astronomy and was undertaken by a collaborative team of international scientists.
The James Webb Space Telescope is an international initiative helmed by NASA, in partnership with the European Space Agency (ESA) and the Canadian Space Agency, and serves as the preeminent space observatory, aiming to resolve mysteries not only within our own solar system but also in distant cosmic regions.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about James Webb Space Telescope Jupiter Discovery
What new feature in Jupiter’s atmosphere was discovered by the James Webb Space Telescope?
The James Webb Space Telescope discovered a high-speed jet stream over Jupiter’s equator. This jet stream travels at about 320 miles per hour and sits above the main cloud decks of the planet.
Who led the research on this new discovery?
The research was led by Ricardo Hueso of the University of the Basque Country in Bilbao, Spain. The Early Release Science program was jointly overseen by Imke de Pater from the University of California, Berkeley, and Thierry Fouchet from the Observatory of Paris.
How does this discovery contribute to our understanding of Jupiter’s atmosphere?
The discovery of the high-speed jet stream gives researchers valuable insights into how the layers of Jupiter’s atmosphere interact with each other. It also demonstrates how the James Webb Space Telescope can uniquely track atmospheric features.
What was the role of the Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) in this discovery?
NIRCam was used to capture images of Jupiter in near-infrared light, allowing researchers to observe wind shears between altitudes of about 12-21 miles (20-35 kilometers) above Jupiter’s cloud tops. This enabled them to track the high-speed jet stream.
How does this jet stream compare to weather phenomena on Earth?
The newly discovered jet stream travels at approximately 320 miles per hour, which is twice the speed of a Category 5 hurricane on Earth. It is located around 25 miles above Jupiter’s clouds, in the planet’s lower stratosphere.
What are the future implications of this discovery?
Researchers are looking forward to additional observations to determine if the jet’s speed and altitude change over time. Understanding this feature could yield insights into Jupiter’s complex and variable wind and temperature patterns in its equatorial stratosphere.
Has the research been published?
Yes, the researchers’ findings were recently published in the scientific journal Nature Astronomy with the DOI reference: 10.1038/s41550-023-02099-2.
What other telescopes and missions have studied Jupiter’s atmosphere?
Various ground-based telescopes, as well as spacecraft like NASA’s Juno and Cassini and the Hubble Space Telescope, have observed Jupiter’s changing weather patterns. However, the James Webb Space Telescope has already provided new findings that complement previous observations.
More about James Webb Space Telescope Jupiter Discovery
- James Webb Space Telescope Official Website
- Nature Astronomy Journal
- University of the Basque Country Research Publications
- NASA’s Juno Mission
- Hubble Space Telescope’s Observations of Jupiter
- Observatory of Paris Official Site
- University of California, Berkeley, Astronomy Department
- Category 5 hurricanes
10 comments
What’s the point of tracking winds on Jupiter, I mean its not like we’re gonna live there any time soon.
Great article but can someone dumb it down for those of us who arent astro-physicists?
Are we going to see more of these discoveries? Webb’s showing its worth already.
Wow, this is mind blowing. Who knew that even with all the tech we got, Jupiter still has secrets. This Webb telescope is a game changer!
Always been fascinated by Jupiter. The Great Red Spot, and now this? So much more to learn.
If we can get such detailed info from Jupiter, imagine what Webb could do for closer objects. exciting times!
honestly im just happy our tax dollars r going to smthng this cool. keep it up NASA!
Didn’t really get the science behind it, but that jet stream thing sounds insane. 320 mph? That’s like, a lot, right?
Why are we spending so much time on Jupiter, when theres still a ton we dont know about our own planet? just wondering.
Webb telescope is the gift that keeps on giving. Cant wait for what they find next.