False-colour infrared map of Jupiter showing aurorae. The image has been colour coded to show infrared intensity at 3.4 micron wavelength from blue (darkest) to red (brightest). Large areas of IR emission are seen at the north (top) and south poles. This is thought to be due to emission by H3+,a triatomic ion of hydrogen. This in turn is created by the ionisation of hydrogen in Jupiter's ionosphere by charged cosmic particles trapped in the planet's magnetic field. The red spot at centre is the moon Ganymede,which simply reflects IR light from the Sun. This image was made using NASA's Infrared Telescope Facility | |
Lizenzart: | Lizenzpflichtig |
Credit: | Science Photo Library / UNIVERSITY COLLEGE LONDON / J.TENNYSON & S.MILLER |
Bildgröße: | 3924 px × 4050 px |
Modell-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Eigentums-Rechte: | nicht erforderlich |
Restrictions: | - |