JWST Captures Gorgeous Jupiter Images

Sep 7, 2022 | Daily Space, Jupiter, JWST

IMAGE: This false-color composite image of Jupiter was obtained July 27 with the NIRCam instrument on board the JWST. Jupiter’s faint rings — a million times dimmer than the planet — and two of its small satellites, Amalthea (left) and Adrastea (dot at edge of ring), are clearly visible against a background of distant galaxies. The diffraction pattern created by the bright auroras and the moon Io (to the left out of the image), form a complex background of scattered light around Jupiter. CREDIT: NASA, European Space Agency, Jupiter Early Release Science team. Image processing: Ricardo Hueso [UPV/EHU] and Judy Schmidt

While Percy explored Mars, JWST looked at things a little… and a lot… farther away. These images included some gas giants, including Jupiter and an exoplanet.

The images of Jupiter are simply stunning. They reveal not only the Great Red Spot but auroral emissions at both poles, and in one mosaic, we can make out Jupiter’s faint ring system and two small moons.

Because JWST is an infrared telescope, the images had to be processed with false colors. Shades of red beyond what our eyes can see have been shifted into blues and grays that make Jupiter appear ghostly in all its gassy details.

More Information

UC Berkeley press release

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