This has never been seen before: a new atmospheric feature has been discovered on Jupiter for the first time (photo)

According to a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy, astronomers were able to detect a previously unknown feature in Jupiter’s atmosphere using the Webb Space Telescope. Space writes that this is a high-altitude jet stream, a region of particularly strong winds that are stronger than category 5 hurricanes on Earth.

In Focus. Technologies emerged telegram channel. Subscribe to avoid missing the latest and most exciting news from the world of science!

Scientists said they were surprised to be able to make a new discovery on a planet that already appeared to be well-studied. But analysis of images of Jupiter taken by the Webb Space Telescope showed that a previously unknown jet stream exists in the gas giant’s upper atmosphere, about 40 km above clouds in the lower stratosphere. This is an area of ​​very strong, high-speed winds, going up to 515 km per hour. This is 2 times higher than the wind speed in the highest, fifth category earthly hurricanes.

Important

Scientists found that the jet stream on Jupiter is 4,800 km wide, and the discovery came as a complete surprise. The new feature in the gas giant’s atmosphere is located above the equator, and although it is not as dramatic as the planet’s better-known atmospheric features, the new discovery provides insight into how the different layers of Jupiter’s atmosphere interact.

Although Jupiter is very different from Earth, at least in size and being a gas giant, and our planet is a rocky world, they are united by the presence of a multilayered atmosphere. Previous observations have already shown that giant storms and frozen ammonia clouds exist in the lower atmosphere. However, it is the Webb telescope that can see what is happening above these clouds in the stratosphere.

Scientists believe that wind speeds in different layers of Jupiter’s atmosphere are responsible for extreme weather conditions on the planet. Now scientists want to compare the results of the new observation with the results of previous studies to find out exactly what properties the winds have in different layers of the gas giant’s atmosphere. It will also help understand how quickly the wind on Jupiter changes with altitude.

According to the study’s authors, they now want to make additional observations of Jupiter using the Webb Space Telescope to find out whether the speed and size of the detected jet stream changes over time.

We would like to remind you that Jupiter and its moons have been observed by the Juno spacecraft for several years. A few days ago, the probe made a close pass of the moon Io, one of the gas giant’s most famous moons. It has the largest number of erupting volcanoes in the entire solar system. As a result of the new flight, the device’s camera captured the fourth largest satellite covered with lava in the solar system, as written before. Focus.

Moreover Focus wrote that astronomers have been able to explain the nature of mysterious signals coming from a very hot planet similar in size to Earth. This is still a theory that only needs to be confirmed, but it does reveal possible characteristics of the “hell planet” 40 light-years from Earth.