Superstorm: Inside Jupiter’s Atmosphere Joe Schweitzer Many Americans say everything is bigger characteristics. This work is being down in Texas. But if you want to really see supplemented by the Gemini Observatory, where everything is large, look no further based in Hawaii. Juno passes around the than Jupiter. Not only can over 1300 Earths planet and scans for radio waves that come fit inside the massive gas planet, but it is up through the massive storm systems. also home to the most massive storms in the Hubble and Gemini analyze the data to solar system. These storms can reach determine the height and thickness of these heights of up to 40 miles and speeds up to cloud systems. Juno can also map 385 mph. New efforts are being led by lightning strikes on the planet and send NASA and others to explore Jupiter’s these data back to computer systems on atmosphere and understand the nature of Earth. [1] these storms. This new team is being led by researchers from UC Berkeley in It Takes a Village California and officials working at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in In order to study a planet of this size, Maryland. This coalition is hoping to gain multiple scientific projects and insight into the size and behavior of these organizations needed to come together. In massive storms. In addition, they hope space, this effort is being led by the Hubble their new data can help scientists Space Telescope and the NASA Juno understand more about the planet’s spacecraft. Juno was launched in 2011, with composition and atmosphere. the purpose of orbiting Jupiter to study its gravity, magnetic field, and other The Giant Red Spot with infrared radiation data (Figure 2), the team has now found that these features are breaks in the cloud layers where heat from Jupiter’s core and surface can escape. [1] This has sparked scientists to ponder how these holes are created and later filled in, along with a deeper curiosity into these storm systems. Breakthroughs like this Figure 1. Image of Jupiter with arrow will allow a greater understanding of the highlighting the Giant Red Spot [2] largest planet in our solar system. When looking at an image of Jupiter (Figure 1), one of the most identifiable features is the large circular region of reddish clouds - known as the “Giant Red Spot.” This is a region of high pressure that has created a storm that has lasted since 1830. The storm is 1.3 times wider than the Earth. [3] NASA first produced images of this storm using the Figure 2. Infrared image of Jupiter from Voyager 1 spacecraft, launched in 1977. Gemini Telescope [5] Since Juno entered its orbit in 2016, it has been capturing images and computer data Forecasting Over 500 Million Miles about activity in the red spot. [4] Although Away it has been observed since the 19th century, the spot still contains many mysteries, The ongoing studies to understand including the origin of its signature red hue. Jupiter’s weather go well beyond the However, the work by NASA and storms in the Giant Red Spot. Hubble and the Gemini Observatory is close to clearing Gemini can create maps and readings for up one of them. Previous observation many kinds of radiation coming from the showed that the storm contained dark planet. These maps are similar to what is features that seemed to appear and disappear done by satellites around Earth when over time. By comparing digital images trying to predict hurricanes and tropical Into the Future storms. By adding in the closer range readings from Juno, scientists can gain even Juno will be deorbited from Jupiter and greater insights into many atmospheric will drift into the planet’s atmosphere on events. July 30, 2021. This action follows NASA protocols to prevent space debris around Much like weathermen here on Earth, the certain planets and space objects. After team is looking at wind patterns, the Juno goes out of commission, the team circulation of gasses and the presence of will have to restructure its research. There water or other liquids that may form are already missions planned to return to precipitation. Lightning strikes are of Jupiter’s moons by NASA and the particular interest. On Jupiter, the lightning European Space Agency. JUICE, planned strikes are three times as energetic as the for 2022, and the Europa Clipper, planned ones on Earth. Strikes on Jupiter occur in for a launch between 2023 and 2025, will turbulent, unstable regions in the orbit around Jupiter and monitor its moons atmosphere where there is an abundance of to determine their composition and the cloud activity. One reason the team is so possible presence of water. [6] As of now, interested in the development of these neither agency has plans for an immediate lightning systems is that they can correlate successor to Juno and it could be years with deep water clouds in Jupiter's before we are able to have deep research atmosphere. Although scientists have into the planet’s impressive weather known about water on Jupiter and one of its systems. The team hopes to maximize the moons, Europa, for some time, these impact and scope of their findings while findings can now give a deeper insight into Juno remains in orbit, leading to a deeper how much water exists within the gas giant. understanding of Jupiter, our solar system If we can understand how Jupiter formed and the universe. and what exactly it consists of, the team can reach a deeper understanding of how planets in our solar system formed and evolved, including our own. Sources Cited [1] “Telescopes and Spacecraft Join Forces,” Goddard Space Flight Center, via Science Daily [2] Image via NASA and Carrera Jastro [3] “What is the Weather like on Jupiter,” Matt Williams, Universe Today [4] “Juno (spacecraft)” via Wikipedia [5] “Infrared Images of Jupiter from Subaru and Gemini Telescopes,” Gemini Observatory via SciNews [6] “Lunar and Planetary Science: Jupiter” via NASA .