This composite image shows Jupiter and its aurorae during a solar coronal mass ejections’s arrival at Jupiter on 2 October 2011. In the image, X-ray data from Chandra (purple) have been overlaid on an optical image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/UCL/W.Dunn et al, Optical: NASA/STScI.Solar storms are triggering X-ray aurorae on Jupiter that are about eight times brighter than normal over a large area of the planet and hundreds of times more energetic than Earth’s “northern lights,” according to a new study using data from NASA’s Chandra X-ray Observatory. This result is the first time that Jupiter’s aurorae have been studied in X-ray light when a giant solar storm arrived at the planet.
The Sun constantly ejects streams of particles into space in the solar wind. Sometimes, giant storms, known as coronal mass ejections (CMEs), erupt and the winds become much stronger. These events compress Jupiter’s magnetosphere, the region of space controlled by Jupiter’s magnetic field, shifting its boundary with the solar wind inward by more than a million miles. This new study found that the interaction at the boundary triggers the X-rays in Jupiter’s aurorae, which cover an area bigger than the surface of the Earth.This composite image shows Jupiter and its aurorae on 4 October 2011, two days after a solar coronal mass ejection had subsided. In the image, X-ray data from Chandra (purple) have been overlaid on an optical image from the NASA/ESA Hubble Space Telescope. Image credit: X-ray: NASA/CXC/UCL/W.Dunn et al, Optical: NASA/STScI.The composite images above show Jupiter and its aurora during and after a CME’s arrival at Jupiter in October 2011. The impact of the CME on Jupiter’s aurora was tracked by monitoring the X-rays emitted during two 11-hour observations. The scientists used that data to pinpoint the source of the X-ray activity and identify areas to investigate further at different time points. They plan to find out how the X-rays form by collecting data on Jupiter’s magnetic field, magnetosphere and aurora using Chandra and ESA’s XMM-Newton.
With the transit of Mercury just two days away, interest in this comparatively rare event is growing fast. Given the favourable timing of this 7½-hour phenomenon for the UK, many will be able to view it at lunchtime or after work. If you don’t have suitably equipped telescope, join one of the many transit-viewing activities hosted by astronomical organisations nationwide.
Due for launch in 2020, ESA’s Euclid satellite will set astronomers a huge challenge: to analyse 100,000 strong gravitational lenses. The gravitational deflection of light from distant astronomical sources by interposing massive galaxies can create multiple images of the source that are not just visually stunning, but are also valuable tools for probing our universe.
