JWST Reveals Hidden Structures and Activity Above Jupiter’s Great Red Spot

Using the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), astronomers have uncovered previously unseen structures and activity in Jupiter’s atmosphere above the Great Red Spot, caused by powerful atmospheric gravity waves. These findings challenge the previously held assumption that the region above the Great Red Spot was relatively uninteresting and offer insights into the complex dynamics of Jupiter’s atmosphere.

Juno Spacecraft Captures Rare Transit of Jupiter’s Fifth Moon Amalthea Across Great Red Spot

NASA’s Juno spacecraft has captured a rare view of Jupiter’s fifth moon, Amalthea, transiting the planet’s iconic Great Red Spot. Despite being Jupiter’s fifth-largest moon, Amalthea is a relatively small, potato-shaped satellite with a unique red surface. The spacecraft’s close flyby revealed Amalthea’s orbit, which is the third-shortest among Jupiter’s moons. Juno’s observations also shed light on Amalthea’s mysterious heat emissions and the potential role of Jupiter’s immense magnetic field and radiation belts in its energy balance.

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