Jupiter's Atmospheric Observations
Jupiter's atmosphere displays a rich variety of activity, studied by both the Galileo Orbiter and its atmospheric Probe. Equatorial cloud belts are associated with atmospheric jet streams that alternate between east and west directions, at different latitudes.
Between the jet streams there are numerous circulating ovals of clouds, some of which have very long lifetimes. The largest of these, the Great Red Spot, has been in existence for over 300 years, since the first recorded observations of the planet.
Upon arrival at Jupiter in 1995, the Galileo Probe penetrated the top most cloudly layers of Jupiter's atmosphere and returned a Jovian weather report on temperature, pressure, composition, winds, and lightning in the vacinity of the probe. By design, no images were taken by the Probe, but it returned a wealth of information about the condition in the Jovian "hot spot" through which it descended.
From orbit, the Galileo Orbiter can observe the cloud patterns and wind conditions over many regions of Jupiter's atmosphere and watch their changes with time. Images taking by several instruments on board in a variety of wavelengths facilitate this study.
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The Red Spot |
Atmospheric Questions for Imaging of Jupiter
- Why do Jupiter's clouds have colors?
- How do the clouds form?
- Why do hotspots and ovals remain for so long?
- Why are there bands and jets on Jupiter?
- Do the clouds cause the jets and bands, or do they simply follow them?
- The jets appear to be stable - why?
- What hazes exist above the normal cloud levels?
How do they affect deeper clouds?
- What chemicals are present in very small amounts in the cloud layers? How were they created and moved there?
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Images Grouped
by Galileo's Orbit
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