Hidden Patterns Found Above Jupiter’s Great Red Spot
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The James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has uncovered strange shapes and activity in Jupiter’s upper atmosphere, right above the planet’s famous Great Red Spot. This massive storm, which has been raging for over 300 years and is twice the size of Earth, is one of the most fascinating features of our solar system.
In a study conducted in July 2022, astronomers used Webb’s advanced Near-Infrared Spectrograph (NIRSpec) to observe this region. They were surprised to find intricate patterns, such as dark arcs and bright spots, in Jupiter’s upper atmosphere. This area is where the planet’s magnetic field interacts with its atmosphere and where its glowing auroras can be seen. These findings show that Jupiter’s upper atmosphere is more exciting and complex than scientists expected.
