James Webb Telescope Reveals Surprises in Jupiter’s Upper Atmosphere

The James Webb Space Telescope has unveiled unexpected features in Jupiter’s upper atmosphere, Anadolu Agency reported today citing the European Space Agency (ESA).

Previously thought to be unremarkable, the region around the iconic Great Red Spot shows intricate structures like dark arcs and bright spots.

“We thought this region would be boring,” said team leader Henrik Melin, “but it’s just as interesting as the northern lights.” These findings suggest gravity waves, similar to ocean waves, play a role in shaping the atmosphere.

The observations, part of an early science program, used the telescope’s NIRSpec instrument in July 2022. These discoveries, published in Nature Astronomy, could benefit future missions like ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, launched in April 2023.