Juno Detects Unusual Plasma Waves in Jupiter’s Aurora

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Using data from NASA’s Juno spacecraft, planetary researchers have detected a new type of plasma wave in the auroral zones above Jupiter’s north pole.

“The NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope has given us some infrared images of the aurora, but Juno is the first spacecraft in a polar orbit around Jupiter,” said Dr. Ali Sulaiman, a researcher at the University of Minnesota.

“The space around magnetized planets like Jupiter is filled with plasma, a superheated state of matter where atoms break into electrons and ions.”

“These particles are accelerated toward the planet’s atmosphere, causing the gases to light up as an aurora.”

“On Earth, this is visible as familiar green and blue lights.”

“However, Jupiter’s aurora is typically invisible to the naked eye and can only be observed using UV and infrared instruments.”

https://www.sci.news/space/juno-unusual-plasma-waves-jupiters-aurora-14150.html