Something ’s wrong with Jupiter ’s aurorae . Although they are observed at both rod , X - ray break of day have only been systematically spotted in the northward . Now , a newNature Astronomystudy has uncover that a persistent southern X - ray aurora has finally been observed – but weirdly , it act independently of its northerly counterpart .
Scientists have long been baffled by the mechanisms by which these resplendent light shows are create on Jupiter . This new theme , led by University College London ( UCL ) planetary scientists , brings up more questions than it answers .
“ How does Jupiter produce shiny , energetic , and dynamic aurora while its sibling , Saturn , does not ? ” William Dunn , an astrophysicist from UCL , said to IFLScience .
Dunn draw the discovery of the southern aurora , via the XMM - Newton and Chandra X - irradiation satellite , as “ confusing ” , and although he and his squad have several estimate as to how it comes about , they desire that the Juno mission will ultimately help lick the mystery story .
Aurorae on Earth , whether you ’re nearer to the Arctic or the Antarctic , are in the main weaker than Jupiter ’s , and they ’re make via adifferent mechanism .
When highly up-and-coming electric fields accumulate along Earth ’s magnetic field lines – triggered by anything from regular solar wind to a highly energetic solar flare – electrons are rapidly speed towards the ground . When they clash with atom in the aura , they become energetically “ excited ” – and when they calm down again , they release photon that appear to us as break of day .
you’re able to actually tell what particle have been hit based on the color of the transitory , dance dragons . atomic number 8 pander yellow - green hues , and atomic number 7 produces more red - violet shades , for example . Either way , they ’re very much dependent on the incoming solar idle words .
Jupiter is , in all esteem , far morealien . Unlike ours – which we see in the visible part of the electromagnetic spectrum – both the northern and southern light there are dominated by XTC - re .
“ To make these Adam - ray signatures the planet postulate to accelerate O ions to 5,000 kilometers ( 3,107 miles ) per second … enough to wholly discase oxygen of all its electrons , ” Dunn explained .
Although they are out of sync with each other , their coming into court can be described as powerful “ pulses ” that “ happen like clockwork ” . The southerly X - light beam outbursts , for illustration , seem to happen every 11 minutes , but it ’s unreadable as to why they ’re so regular .
The electrical field near Jupiter ’s pole are around 30 times stronger than Earth ’s . Weirdly though , the aurorae do n’t seem to appear around them , which suggest they are n’t causing them .
It ’s been advise that ripples in the Jovian standard atmosphere are take into account electrons to speed enough to cause break of the day . This is in the main thought to be a resultant of the planet ’s own rotation , but it was also observed quite prominently back in 1994 when the ruinous , multi - stage encroachment of Comet Shoemaker - Levy 9 sent shockwaves through the atm .
Solar current of air also has some influence , as does thevolcanic debrisjettisoned from nearby Io .
Nevertheless , these ideas do not adequately explain the accurate timing of the XTC - ray pulses , nor do they elucidate why they ’re so incredibly energetic . Dunn ’s team have a few ideas of their own , with one guess the planet to be akin to a giant musical pawn .
They suggest that when solar wind smashes into Jupiter ’s charismatic force field , it causes the field lines to vibrate like “ the string on a guitar ” .
This vibe causes oxygen and sulfur ions to leap up and collide with Jupiter ’s atmosphere at breakneck focal ratio , which would explain both the timing and the in high spirits - Energy Department nature of both the northerly and southern light . Their independent behaviors , though , is still rather unmanageable to explain .
Only time will narrate if they ’re correct , but until then , Jupiter will remain the Solar System ’s largest planetary enigma .
