James Webb Telescope Uncovers New Details and Mysteries in Jupiter's Auroras

Using the James Webb Space Telescope, scientists have captured stunning images of Jupiter's auroras, revealing previously unknown details. These auroras are hundreds of times brighter and more energetic than Earth's Northern and Southern Lights. The findings will help researchers understand how Jupiter's atmosphere is heated and cooled.

Unlike Earth's auroras, which are caused by solar particles, Jupiter's auroras are fueled by charged particles from its moon Io and its own magnetic environment. The images show fiery-colored clouds emitting trihydrogen cations, one of the most abundant ions in the universe.

The study, led by Jonathan Nichols from the University of Leicester, also uncovered unexplained discrepancies between Webb and Hubble data, suggesting new mysteries about Jupiter's auroras.