Jupiter’s Colorful Belts and Zones tagged posts

Juno Peers Deep into Jupiter’s Colorful Belts and Zones

Juno peers deep into Jupiter's colourful belts and zones
Artist’s impression based on JunoCam image of Jupiter acquired on July 21, 2021. Enhanced to highlight features, clouds, colours, and the beauty of Jupiter. Credit: NASA/SwRI/MSSS/Tanya Oleksuik

Leicester study of data captured in orbit around Jupiter has revealed new insights into what’s happening deep beneath the gas giant’s distinctive and colourful bands.

Data from the microwave radiometer carried by NASA’s Juno spacecraft shows that Jupiter’s banded pattern extends deep below the clouds, and that the appearance of Jupiter’s belts and zones inverts near the base of the water clouds. Microwave light allows planetary scientists to gaze deep beneath Jupiter’s colourful clouds, to understand the weather and climate in the warmer, darker, deeper layers.

At altitudes shallower than...

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