2023-11-06 12:07:15
Jupiter in ultraviolet light – NASA, ESA, M. WONG
MADRID, 6 Nov. (EUROPA PRESS) –
This recent Hubble Space Telescope image released by NASA shows the planet Jupiter in a color scheme of ultraviolet wavelengths, invisible to the human eye.
Published in honor of the moment when Jupiter reaches opposition, What happens when the planet and the Sun are on opposite sides of the sky, this view of the gas giant planet includes the iconic, massive storm called the “Great Red Spot.” Although the storm appears red to the human eye, in this ultraviolet image it appears darker because haze particles at high altitudes absorb light at these wavelengths. Wavy, reddish polar mists absorb a little less of this light due to differences in particle size, composition or altitude.
The data used to create this ultraviolet image is part of a Hubble proposal that examined Jupiter’s stealthy superstorm system. Researchers plan to map deep clouds using Hubble data to define 3D cloud structures in Jupiter’s atmosphere, NASA reports.
Hubble has a long history of observing outer planets. From the impacts of comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 to the study of Jupiter’s storms, Hubble’s decades-long career and unique vantage point provide astronomers with valuable data to chart the evolution of this dynamic planet.
Hubble’s ultraviolet observing capabilities allow astronomers to study short, high-energy wavelengths of light beyond what the human eye can see. Ultraviolet light reveals fascinating cosmic phenomena, including light from younger, hotter stars embedded in local galaxies; the composition, densities and temperatures of the material between the stars; and the evolution of galaxies.
This is a false color image because the human eye cannot detect ultraviolet light. Therefore, colors in the visible light spectrum were assigned to the images, each taken with a different ultraviolet filter. In this case, the colors assigned for each filter are: Blue: F225W, Green: F275W and Red: F343N.
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