New Weather Feature Discovered in JWST's Picture of Jupiter
NASA's James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) has discovered a new weather feature on Jupiter: a high-speed jet stream that is moving twice as fast as the winds of a Category 5 hurricane on Earth.
The jet stream was found in images taken by JWST's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) in July 2022. The images show the jet stream as a narrow, bright streak above Jupiter's equator. The jet is estimated to be moving at speeds of about 320 miles per hour (515 kilometers per hour).
Scientists are not sure exactly how the jet stream is formed, but they believe it may be related to the Coriolis effect, which is a force caused by the rotation of the planet. The Coriolis effect is responsible for the swirling patterns of hurricanes and typhoons on Earth.
The discovery of the new jet stream on Jupiter is exciting for scientists because it will help them to better understand the dynamics of the planet's atmosphere. Jupiter is a very dynamic planet, with a turbulent atmosphere that is constantly changing. The new jet stream is just one example of the many complex weather features that exist on Jupiter.
In addition to the jet stream, JWST's images of Jupiter also revealed other new details about the planet's atmosphere. For example, the images showed that Jupiter's Great Red Spot, a massive storm that has been raging on the planet for centuries, is shrinking. The images also showed that Jupiter's auroras, which are similar to the Northern and Southern Lights on Earth, are much more active than previously thought.
JWST's observations of Jupiter are just the beginning. Scientists are planning to use the telescope to study the planet in more detail in the coming years. They hope to learn more about Jupiter's atmosphere, its moons, and its rings.
The discovery of the new jet stream on Jupiter is a testament to JWST's incredible power. The telescope is able to see details of Jupiter's atmosphere that were never before possible. This discovery will help scientists to better understand Jupiter and other gas giants in our solar system.