Experts from University College London UCL are able to decipher a cosmic mystery that had been unanswered since it was first discovered. The mystery involves how Jupiter exhibits subsequent blinking of X-rays in a span of a few minutes.
40-Year Phenomena in Jupiter Solved by Astronomers
Jupiter's X-rays are made of the planet's aurora. It contains both visible and non-visible lights that were reactions of the charged particles in the atmosphere. Jupiter's light show is similar to Earth's aurora that occurs in the northern and southern hemispheres of the planet. However, Jupiter's aurora is significantly powerful compared to our planet. Jupiter's patch of flares was observed to have hundreds of gigawatts of energy, which is enough to generate power for our current civilization.
NASA's satellite Juno and the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton made the observation of the Jupiter's aurora possible. Using the combination of close examination and simultaneous X-ray measurements, the experts are able to conduct research regarding the weird but astonishing phenomena on Jupiter's surface.
UCL and the Chinese Academy of Sciences assembled a research team that have successfully observed and gathered data from Jupiter's light show. According to the study published in the journal Science Advances entitled "Revealing the source of Jupiter's x-ray auroral flares," the X-ray bursts are the effect of Jupiter's magnetic field and its periodic vibrations. The field vibrations emit plasma waves, also known as ionized gas, that triggers heavy particles to move across the magnetic field lines. These movements will release massive energy as the ions reach the planet's atmosphere, manifesting visible X-ray formations.
Jupiter's X-Ray Aurora Light Show Explained
UCL Mullard Space Science Laboratory expert and co-author of the study William Dunn said that scientists did not have enough data to identify what really causes Jupiter's flares. The X-ray aurora had been observable for the last 4 decades, but the only thing the experts are certain of is the heavy ions propelling over the planet's atmosphere. Fortunately, the recent study revealed additional data regarding the light show in Jupiter.
Plasma waves are responsible for transporting the heavy-ion, based on the study. The information was not yet raised by other experts that have attempted to conduct research on the aurora. The influence of plasma waves and ions in Jupiter's surface took time to concludes, even though the atmospheric activity is similar to how Earth creates its aurora. Because of the presence of the aurora on both planets, astronomers theorized that the surface flares could be a universal phenomenon that is occurring in various regions across space, reports Irish News.
Jupiter's X-ray auroras are showing frequently on the planet'ss north and south hemispheres, pretty much like how Earth showcases its own skylight dance. But compared to the seasonal auroras on our planet, the lights on Jupiter have a chronic appearance. Based on the observation, the estimated interval of the X-ray bursts is about 27 minutes apart.
Jupiter's moon Io is abundant in volcanic activities, and researchers found that the moon's enormous volcanoes can blast over space. The volcanic gas emitted from Io slaps the atmosphere of Jupiter and becomes ionized, stripping the gasses of their electrons. Once it collides with the plasma of the planet, the ionized gas creates the X-ray aurora.
The astronomers are convinced that the magnetic field of Jupiter, which is 20,000 stronger than our planet, is potentially on other planets, too, and these planets can manifest the same activity that is shown by Jupiter. Further studies will be conducted regarding the chronic pulsating of the magnetic field lines, which are suspected to be an effect of a collision between solar winds and Jupiter's magnetosphere, reports PhysOrg.
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