Jupiter’s Auroras Have Mysterious Power Source

via Science

Jupiter’s auroras (depicted in this composite image) are by far the strongest in the solar system—and surprisingly, a new study finds, the brightest ones are not generated by the same processes that create our planet’s strongest auroras. On Earth, the brightest auroras (the high-altitude glows often called the northern and southern lights) are generated when electrons in outer space near Earth are accelerated by large electrical potentials, or voltages, along the lines in our planet’s magnetic field and slam into gas molecules in the upper atmosphere above polar regions.

The same process, driven by even larger voltages, happens at Jupiter but plays an unexpectedly minor role in creating auroras there, the new analysis suggests. Scientists don’t fully understand what’s driving Jupiter’s strongest auroras, but data gathered by the orbiting Juno spacecraft hint that the electrons generating Jupiter’s polar glows may be accelerated by turbulent waves in the planet’s magnetic field—a process somewhat akin to surfers being driven shoreward ahead of breaking ocean waves, the researchers report today in Nature. Further analyses may help scientists better understand what’s going on in Jupiter’s atmosphere, scientists say. They could also help engineers better design probes that can survive repeated passes through the strong magnetic fields near Jupiter.

Read more!


Have an amazing project to share? The Electronics Show and Tell is every Wednesday at 7:30pm ET! To join, head over to YouTube and check out the show’s live chat and our Discord!

Join us every Wednesday night at 8pm ET for Ask an Engineer!

Join over 38,000+ makers on Adafruit’s Discord channels and be part of the community! http://adafru.it/discord

CircuitPython – The easiest way to program microcontrollers – CircuitPython.org


New Products – Adafruit Industries – Makers, hackers, artists, designers and engineers! — New Products 11/15/2024 Featuring Adafruit bq25185 USB / DC / Solar Charger with 3.3V Buck Board! (Video)

Python for Microcontrollers – Adafruit Daily — Python on Microcontrollers Newsletter: A New Arduino MicroPython Package Manager, How-Tos and Much More! #CircuitPython #Python #micropython @ThePSF @Raspberry_Pi

EYE on NPI – Adafruit Daily — EYE on NPI Maxim’s Himalaya uSLIC Step-Down Power Module #EyeOnNPI @maximintegrated @digikey

Adafruit IoT Monthly — The 2024 Recap Issue!

Maker Business – Adafruit Daily — Apple to build another chip at TSMC Arizona

Electronics – Adafruit Daily — SMT Tip – Stop moving around!

Get the only spam-free daily newsletter about wearables, running a "maker business", electronic tips and more! Subscribe at AdafruitDaily.com !


No Comments

No comments yet.

Sorry, the comment form is closed at this time.