Unveiling Jupiter's Mysteries: Hubble's Ultraviolet Exploration

NASA's Hubble Space Telescope has recently released a captivating image of Jupiter, showcasing the gas giant in an unprecedented composite color of ultraviolet wavelengths. This unique release coincides with Jupiter's opposition, a celestial event where Jupiter and the Sun take positions on contrasting sides of the sky.

The Great Red Spot: A Spectacular Display

The image strikingly features Jupiter's famous, gigantic storm, known as the "Great Red Spot." While it exhibits a reddish hue to the naked eye, the storm appears darker in the ultraviolet image, attributed to the absorption of light by high-altitude haze particles at these wavelengths.

Mapping Jupiter's Atmospheric Features

Researchers utilize Hubble data to decipher the patterns and streaks on Jupiter's surface, aiming to unravel the intricacies of this gas giant's atmosphere. Hubble, with its rich history of observing the outer planets, offers a unique perspective for astronomers. Its observations range from the impacts of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 to the intricate study of Jupiter's storms, providing invaluable data to track the evolution of the planet.

Why Ultraviolet Observations?

Hubble's capability to observe in ultraviolet light allows astronomers to explore short, high-energy wavelengths of light invisible to the human eye. The ultraviolet light reveals astounding cosmic phenomena, shedding light on the hottest and youngest stars in nearby galaxies.

Decoding the False-Color Image

The released image is a false-color one, as human eyes cannot perceive ultraviolet light. The images are color-coded based on the visible light spectrum, each captured with a different ultraviolet filter. In this context, the colors assigned for each filter include Blue for F225W, Green for F275W, and Red for F343N.

Source: NASA