Greenbelt, Maryland – NASA’s Hubble Space Telescope has captured stunning new images of Jupiter, showcasing the planet’s dynamic weather patterns and notable storms like the Great Red Spot and Red Spot Jr. These images, taken on January 5-6, 2024, are part of the annual Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy program, which also highlighted volcanic activity on Jupiter’s moon, Io.
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, is characterized by its ever-changing kaleidoscope of colorful clouds. The planet, with no solid surface, is covered with ammonia ice-crystal clouds about 30 miles thick, giving it its distinct banded appearance. These bands are created by air flowing in different directions at varying latitudes, with speeds reaching up to 350 miles per hour, resulting in the formation of cyclones, anticyclones, and wind shear.
The Hubble Space Telescope continuously tracks the dynamic changes in Jupiter’s atmosphere, revealing new surprises every year. The latest images from Hubble show numerous large storms and small white clouds, indicating a significant amount of activity on the planet. These storms and cloud formations are a testament to the constant motion and turbulence in Jupiter’s atmosphere.
In addition to capturing images of Jupiter, the Hubble Space Telescope also monitors other outer solar system planets under the Outer Planet Atmospheres Legacy program. The telescope’s ability to observe Jupiter with unprecedented clarity allows scientists to study the planet’s atmospheric dynamics in great detail, providing valuable insights into its weather patterns.
One of the standout features in the images is the Great Red Spot, the largest storm in the solar system, along with smaller storms and anticyclones scattered across Jupiter’s atmosphere. These storms rotate in opposite directions, creating a mesmerizing visual pattern of high- and low-pressure systems. Scientists note that the storms are expected to interact and repel each other due to their opposing rotations.
Furthermore, the images captured by Hubble also showcase Jupiter’s moon, Io, known for its intense volcanic activity. The telescope’s high sensitivity to blue and violet wavelengths allows researchers to observe volcanic outflow deposits on Io’s surface in great detail. By studying Io’s volcanic activity, scientists can better understand the geological processes at work on the moon.
Overall, the Hubble Space Telescope’s ongoing observations of Jupiter provide valuable insights into the complex and ever-changing dynamics of the planet’s atmosphere. The images captured by Hubble not only showcase the beauty of Jupiter’s stormy weather but also contribute to our understanding of the outer solar system’s atmospheric phenomena.