James Webb Space Telescope Spots Previously Unseen Structure Above Jupiter's Great Red Spot

Astronomers noticed a structure they previously missed on Jupiter thanks to the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST).

JWST Helps Astronomers Discover New Structure in Jupiter

Astronomers have used the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) to discover previously undiscovered structures and activity in Jupiter's atmosphere above the Great Red Spot. Strong atmospheric gravity waves appear to be the cause of these peculiar traits.

With the JWST situated a million miles from Earth, our planet's atmosphere poses no obstacle to this $10 billion space telescope. Furthermore, the JWST can see the gas giant's atmosphere, particularly the area above the Great Red Spot, in great detail due to its sensitivity in the infrared spectrum.

Henrik Melin of the University of Leicester and colleagues used the primary JWST instrument, NIRSpec, to target this region and determine whether it is relatively dull. This resulted in identifying numerous complex formations within the JWST's range of view, such as brilliant spots and dark arcs.

Melin admitted in a statement that they assumed the area would be incredibly dull. In actuality, it's even more fascinating than the northern lights.

Most of the light seen from Jupiter's atmosphere is caused by incident solar radiation. Still, the team believes that another source must be responsible for changes in the shape and structure of the upper Jovian atmosphere.

Gravity waves are one technique to alter this structure. Melin described them as waves breaking on a beach and swirling in the sand. Deep in the turbulent lower atmosphere, these waves are produced all around the Great Red Spot. When they rise, they can change the structure and emissions in the upper atmosphere.

They are also different from the gravitational waves that Albert Einstein mentioned in his 1915 theory of general relativity. They do not travel through spacetime but through an atmosphere.

Occasional observations of these atmospheric gravity waves can also be made on Earth, although they are far weaker and less potent than the identical phenomena observed over Jupiter.

The team's current goal is to use the JWST to investigate the complicated wave patterns that underlie these recently discovered Great Red Spot features. Future research may be able to explain how the waves migrate through the upper atmosphere of the gas giant and why the structures are moving.

What Is Jupiter's Great Red Spot

The Great Red Spot is a massive, long-lasting storm system. Due to its visible cloud surface, it is Jupiter's most noticeable characteristic. It can completely engulf Earth because it is roughly 16,350 km (10,159 miles) wide, slightly oval in shape, and typically reddish in color.

Scientists have long assumed that Jupiter's atmosphere above the Great Red Spot wasn't all that intriguing despite the storm's age, size, and intensity. This notion could not have been more incorrect, as demonstrated by the latest data provided by the Near InfraRed Spectrograph (NIRSpec) instrument on board the JWST, which recorded the big scarlet storm in July 2022.

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