Watch the video
TESS has found a planet that orbits two stars. We could observe eclipses every 15 days
–
Two unique photos of Jupiter
The researchers took advantage of Hubble Space Telescope to take exceptional pictures of Jupiter. The photos were taken on August 25, when this planet, the largest in the solar system, was 653 million kilometers from Earth.
The first image, taken in visible light, shows Jupiter in all its glory and in natural colors. Another photograph was created by combining observations at many wavelengths – in ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared light. This procedure allowed the researchers to notice more details in the structures of Jupiter’s atmosphere.
–
Źródło: NASA, ESA, A. Simon (Goddard Space Flight Center), and M. H. Wong (University of California, Berkeley) and the OPAL team.
Hubble image of Jupiter and Europa – a combination of images at different wavelengths – in ultraviolet, visible and near-infrared light fot. NASA, ESA, A. Simon (Goddard Space Flight Center), and M. H. Wong (University of California, Berkeley) and the OPAL team.
Delicate structures of Jupiter clouds
Of course, scientists directed the most famous telescope in history at Jupiter for a reason. They needed extremely sharp photos to analyze the changes in the planet’s atmosphere. The photo captures a completely new storm that broke out on August 18 this year. It is visible as a long white streak in the western hemisphere north of the equator. According to researchers, it travels at a speed of 560 km / h.
Scientists emphasize that although storms often occur in this region, this particular one will most likely decorate Jupiter’s atmosphere for a long time.
In addition, scientists have noticed that in the new image, the Great Red Spot (a known anticyclone that has been present on Jupiter for over 350 years) has an even deeper red color than in previous photos. According to the researchers, the planet’s most famous anticyclone is now 15,800 kilometers in diameter (compared to the Earth’s diameter is 12,742 km) and it is shrinking continuously, although it is doing it slower and slower. However, researchers still do not know why this is so.
Below the Great Red Palm, another Jupiter anticyclone is also visible – the BA Oval, present since 2006, also known as the Junior Red Spot (at the time of its creation it was reddish, and then turned white). The new photograph has shown that the color of this anticyclone has started to change again and the BA oval is now taking on an increasingly distinct orange hue.
The ice moon of Europa
In the first image (in visible light), you can also see Europa – the fourth largest moon of the planet – right next to Jupiter. Researchers believe that its icy crust hides a global ocean of liquid water, making it a great environment for life to flourish.
Interestingly, in 2013 the Hubble Telescope made an extraordinary discovery related to Europe. The moon has seen water vapor leaking from beneath the icy surface, as well as plumes of water spraying into space near the South Pole.
–
