Jupiter became one of the initial focal points for the James Webb Space Telescope when it first turned its infrared gaze toward the cosmos in July 2022.

Following the capture of breathtaking images that exceeded astronomers’ expectations, this space observatory has now unveiled an entirely unprecedented aspect of the gas giant’s atmosphere.

Utilizing Webb’s Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam), researchers conducted a series of image captures of Jupiter with a 10-hour interval, employing four distinct filters to discern alterations in the planet’s atmospheric conditions.

Infrared light, which falls outside the spectrum of human vision, has allowed the Webb telescope’s extraordinary capabilities to uncover various newly observed celestial phenomena over the past year.

These include expansive clusters of youthful stars and unexpected pairings of planet-like objects, CNN reported.

Within Jupiter’s lower stratosphere, an atmospheric layer located approximately 25 miles (40 kilometers) above the clouds, astronomers have identified a high-velocity jet stream.

This jet stream, positioned over the planet’s equator, spans a staggering width of over 3,000 miles (4,800 kilometers) and propels itself at a velocity of 320 miles per hour (515 kilometers per hour).

This is twice the speed observed with the sustained winds of a Category 5 hurricane on Earth.

Thanks to the sensitive capabilities of the Webb telescope, these research findings provide valuable insights into the dynamic interactions taking place within Jupiter’s turbulent atmosphere.

Written by staff