{"id":12828,"date":"2016-06-30T10:00:09","date_gmt":"2016-06-30T14:00:09","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=12828"},"modified":"2016-06-29T18:46:34","modified_gmt":"2016-06-29T22:46:34","slug":"hubble-telescope-captures-vivid-auroras-above-jupiters-northern-pole","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=12828","title":{"rendered":"Hubble telescope captures vivid auroras above Jupiter&#8217;s northern pole"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>A report from the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spacetelescope.org\/news\/heic1613\/?lang\">NASA\/ESA Hubble Observatory team<\/a>:<\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spacetelescope.org\/news\/heic1613\/?lang\" target=\"_blank\">Hubble captures vivid auroras in Jupiter\u2019s atmosphere<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<figure id=\"attachment_12829\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-12829\" style=\"width: 500px\" class=\"wp-caption aligncenter\"><a href=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/heic1613a1.jpg\" target=\"_blank\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" data-attachment-id=\"12829\" data-permalink=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?attachment_id=12829\" data-orig-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/heic1613a1.jpg\" data-orig-size=\"700,700\" data-comments-opened=\"1\" data-image-meta=\"{&quot;aperture&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;credit&quot;:&quot;NASA, ESA&quot;,&quot;camera&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;caption&quot;:&quot;This image combines an image taken with Hubble Space Telescope in the optical (taken in spring 2014) and observations of its auroras in the ultraviolet, taken in 2016.&quot;,&quot;created_timestamp&quot;:&quot;1467302400&quot;,&quot;copyright&quot;:&quot;&quot;,&quot;focal_length&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;iso&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;shutter_speed&quot;:&quot;0&quot;,&quot;title&quot;:&quot;Auroras on Jupiter&quot;,&quot;orientation&quot;:&quot;0&quot;}\" data-image-title=\"Auroras on Jupiter\" data-image-description=\"\" data-image-caption=\"&lt;p&gt;This image combines an image taken with Hubble Space Telescope in the optical (taken in spring 2014) and observations of its auroras in the ultraviolet, taken in 2016.&lt;\/p&gt;\n\" data-large-file=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/heic1613a1.jpg\" class=\"wp-image-12829\" src=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/heic1613a1.jpg\" alt=\"This image combines an image taken with Hubble Space Telescope in the optical (taken in spring 2014) and observations of its auroras in the ultraviolet, taken in 2016.\" width=\"500\" height=\"500\" srcset=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/heic1613a1.jpg 700w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/heic1613a1-150x150.jpg 150w, https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2016\/06\/heic1613a1-300x300.jpg 300w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 500px) 100vw, 500px\" \/><\/a><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-12829\" class=\"wp-caption-text\"><em><a href=\"https:\/\/www.spacetelescope.org\/images\/heic1613a\/\" target=\"_blank\">This image<\/a> combines an image taken with Hubble Space Telescope in the optical (taken in spring 2014) and observations of its auroras in the ultraviolet, taken in 2016.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p>Astronomers are using the NASA\/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to study auroras \u2014 stunning light shows in a planet\u2019s atmosphere \u2014 on the poles of the largest planet in the Solar System, Jupiter. This observation programme is supported by measurements made by NASA\u2019s Juno spacecraft, currently on its way to Jupiter.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/ihDFCs3o-gI?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>This timelapse video of the vivid auroras in Jupiter\u2019s atmosphere was created using observations made with the NASA\/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble is particularly suited to observing and studying the auroras on the biggest planet in the Solar System, as they are brightest in the ultraviolet.\u00a0Credit:\u00a0NASA, ESA, J. Nichols<\/em><\/p>\n<p>Jupiter, the largest planet in the Solar System, is best known for its colourful storms, the most famous being the\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Great_Red_Spot\" target=\"_blank\">Great Red Spot<\/a>. Now astronomers have focused on another beautiful feature of the planet, using the ultraviolet capabilities of the NASA\/ESA Hubble Space Telescope.<\/p>\n<p>The extraordinary vivid glows shown in the new observations are known as <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Aurora\" target=\"_blank\">auroras<\/a> <a href=\"#1\">[1]<\/a>. They are created when high energy particles enter a planet\u2019s atmosphere near its magnetic poles and collide with atoms of gas. As well as producing beautiful images, this programme aims to determine how various components of Jupiter\u2019s auroras respond to different conditions in the <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Solar_wind\">solar wind<\/a>, a stream of charged particles ejected from the Sun.<\/p>\n<p><span class=\"embed-youtube\" style=\"text-align:center; display: block;\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"youtube-player\" width=\"1600\" height=\"900\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/hPC9pLZ51S8?version=3&#038;rel=1&#038;showsearch=0&#038;showinfo=1&#038;iv_load_policy=1&#038;fs=1&#038;hl=en&#038;autohide=2&#038;wmode=transparent\" allowfullscreen=\"true\" style=\"border:0;\" sandbox=\"allow-scripts allow-same-origin allow-popups allow-presentation allow-popups-to-escape-sandbox\"><\/iframe><\/span><\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>This timelapse video of the vivid auroras in Jupiter\u2019s atmosphere was created using observations made with the NASA\/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Hubble is particularly suited to observing and studying the auroras on the biggest planet in the Solar System, as they are brightest in the ultraviolet.\u00a0Credit:\u00a0NASA, ESA, J. Nichols<\/em><\/p>\n<p>This observation programme is perfectly timed as <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/juno\/overview\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">NASA\u2019s Juno<\/a> spacecraft is currently in the solar wind near Jupiter and will enter the orbit of the planet in early July 2016. While Hubble is observing and measuring the auroras on Jupiter, Juno is measuring the properties of the solar wind itself; a perfect collaboration between a telescope and a space probe <a href=\"#2\">[2]<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p style=\"padding-left: 30px;\"><em>\u201cThese auroras are very dramatic and among the most active I have ever seen\u201d, says Jonathan Nichols from the University of Leicester, UK, and principal investigator of the study. \u201cIt almost seems as if Jupiter is throwing a firework party for the imminent arrival of Juno.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n<p>To highlight changes <a class=\"current\" href=\"http:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-admin\/post-new.php\">Add New<\/a>in the auroras Hubble is observing Jupiter daily for around one month. Using this series of images it is possible for scientists to create videos that demonstrate the movement of the vivid auroras, which cover areas bigger than the Earth.<\/p>\n<p>Not only are the auroras huge, they are also hundreds of times more energetic than auroras on Earth. And, unlike those on Earth, they never cease. Whilst on Earth the most intense auroras are caused by solar storms \u2014 when charged particles rain down on the upper atmosphere, excite gases, and cause them to glow red, green and purple \u2014 Jupiter has an additional source for its auroras.<\/p>\n<p>The strong magnetic field of the gas giant grabs charged particles from its surroundings. This includes not only the charged particles within the solar wind but also the particles thrown into space by its orbiting moon <a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Io_(moon)\" target=\"_blank\">Io<\/a>, known for its numerous and large volcanos.<\/p>\n<p>The new observations and measurements made with Hubble and Juno will help to better understand how the Sun and other sources influence auroras. While the observations with Hubble are still ongoing and the analysis of the data will take several more months, the first images and videos are already available and show the auroras on Jupiter\u2019s north pole in their full beauty.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Notes<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a name=\"1\"><\/a>[1] Jupiter\u2019s auroras were first discovered by the Voyager 1 spacecraft in 1979. A thin ring of light on Jupiter&#8217;s nightside looked like a stretched-out version of our own auroras on Earth. Only later on was it discovered that the auroras were best visible in the ultraviolet.<\/p>\n<p><a name=\"2\"><\/a>[2] This is not the first time astronomers have used Hubble to observe the auroras on Jupiter, nor is it the first time that Hubble has cooperated with space probes to do so. In 2000 the <a href=\"http:\/\/sci.esa.int\/cassini-huygens\/\" target=\"_blank\">NASA\/ESA Cassini<\/a> spacecraft made its closest approach to Jupiter and scientists used this opportunity to gather data and images about the auroras simultaneously from Cassini and Hubble (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spacetelescope.org\/news\/heic0009\/\" target=\"_blank\">heic0009<\/a>). In 2007 Hubble obtained images in support of its sister NASA Mission <a href=\"http:\/\/www.nasa.gov\/mission_pages\/newhorizons\/main\/index.html\" target=\"_blank\">New Horizons<\/a> which used Jupiter&#8217;s gravity for a manoeuvre on its way to Pluto (<a href=\"https:\/\/www.spacetelescope.org\/images\/opo0714a\/\" target=\"_blank\">opo0714a<\/a>).<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A report from the\u00a0NASA\/ESA Hubble Observatory team: Hubble captures vivid auroras in Jupiter\u2019s atmosphere\u00a0 Astronomers are using the NASA\/ESA Hubble Space Telescope to study auroras \u2014 stunning light shows in a planet\u2019s atmosphere \u2014 on the poles of the largest planet in the Solar System, Jupiter. This observation programme is supported by measurements made by &hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=12828\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading <span class=\"screen-reader-text\">Hubble telescope captures vivid auroras above Jupiter&#8217;s northern pole<\/span> <span class=\"meta-nav\">&rarr;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[12],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-12828","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-astronomy"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p34aWK-3kU","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":16660,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=16660","url_meta":{"origin":12828,"position":0},"title":"Video: Hubble captures aurora in action on Saturn&#8217;s north pole","author":"TopSpacer","date":"August 30, 2018","format":false,"excerpt":"A new report from the NASA\/ESA Hubble Telescope collaboration: Hubble observes energetic lightshow at Saturn\u2019s north pole Astronomers using the NASA\/ESA Hubble Space telescope have taken a series of spectacular images featuring the fluttering auroras at the north pole of Saturn. The observations were taken in ultraviolet light and the\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Astronomy&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Astronomy","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=12"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/08\/heic1815a1.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":6463,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=6463","url_meta":{"origin":12828,"position":1},"title":"Video: The dancing auroras of Saturn","author":"TopSpacer","date":"February 12, 2014","format":false,"excerpt":"A beautiful set of image sequences showing the auroras of Saturn in action:\u00a0Dance of Saturn's Auroras - YouTube http:\/\/youtu.be\/p32xzRSBXuk From the caption: Ultraviolet and infrared images from NASA's Cassini spacecraft and Hubble Space Telescope show active and quiet auroras at Saturn's north and south poles. 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Hubble took a string\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Astronomy&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Astronomy","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=12"},"img":{"alt_text":"Three moons and their shadows parade across Jupiter \u2014 Comparis","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2015\/02\/heic1504a-1022x1024.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":5651,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=5651","url_meta":{"origin":12828,"position":3},"title":"Hubble telescope spots evidence of water vapor venting from Jupiter moon Europa","author":"TopSpacer","date":"December 12, 2013","format":false,"excerpt":"An interesting finding for the Jupiter moon Europa\u00a0by the Hubble Telescope\u00a0: \u00a0Hubble discovers water vapour venting from Jupiter\u2019s moon Europa - ESA\/Hubble This artist's impression shows Jupiter and its moon Europa using actual Jupiter and Europa images in visible light. The Hubble ultraviolet images showing\u00a0the faint emission from the water\u2026","rel":"","context":"In &quot;Gas giants Saturn, Jupiter, et al&quot;","block_context":{"text":"Gas giants Saturn, Jupiter, et al","link":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?cat=87"},"img":{"alt_text":"Water vapour plumes on Jupiter's moon Europa (artist's impression)","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/www.spacetelescope.org\/static\/archives\/images\/medium\/heic1322c.jpg?resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200},"classes":[]},{"id":10116,"url":"https:\/\/hobbyspace.com\/Blog\/?p=10116","url_meta":{"origin":12828,"position":4},"title":"Hubble study suggests large underground ocean on Jupiter&#8217;s moon Ganymede","author":"TopSpacer","date":"March 13, 2015","format":false,"excerpt":"The moons in the solar system continue to get more and more interesting. 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