Jupiter's upper atmospheric winds revealed in ultraviolet images by Hubble Telescope
Top
Three impact sites appear as dark smudges lined up along Jupiter's southern hemisphere (from left to right, sites C, A, and E). This pair of images was obtained on 17 July, several hours after the E impact. These 3 impact sites appear strikingly darker in the far-ultraviolet images to the right. This is because the smoke and dust rising from the fireballs absorbs UV light more strongly than violet light, so that the clouds appear both darker and larger in the UV images. Apparently, the fireball and plume threw large amounts of material completely above the atmosphere. This material diffused back down through the atmosphere with the smaller and lighter particles suspended at high altitudes.
Bottom
Rubble's view of the same hemisphere of Jupiter 12-13 days later shows that the smoke and dust have now been spread mainly in the east/west direction by die prevailing winds at the altitude where the dark material is suspended or "floating" in the atmosphere.
About the Image
About the Object
Name: | Jupiter |
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Type: | Solar System : Planet : Type : Gas Giant Solar System : Planet : Feature : Atmosphere : Aurora |
Category: | Solar System |
Colours & filters
Band | Wavelength | Telescope |
---|---|---|
Ultraviolet Far-UV | 160 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |
Ultraviolet Near-UV | 366 nm |
Hubble Space Telescope
WFPC2 |