24/7 Space News
SOLAR SCIENCE
Solar wind compressions spark massive heatwaves on Jupiter
illustration only
Solar wind compressions spark massive heatwaves on Jupiter
by Sophie Jenkins
London, UK (SPX) Apr 10, 2025

A powerful solar wind surge that dramatically compressed Jupiter's magnetic boundary has been recorded for the first time, revealing unexpected heating effects across the gas giant's upper atmosphere.

University of Reading researchers uncovered this 2017 event in which a dense solar wind stream slammed into Jupiter, crushing its magnetosphere and generating a superheated zone across half the planet's width. Temperatures in this region soared above 500oC, a stark contrast to the usual 350oC background in Jupiter's upper atmosphere.

The findings, detailed in the latest issue of Geophysical Research Letters (Thursday, 3 April), suggest such events may strike Jupiter two to three times monthly.

"We have never captured Jupiter's response to solar wind before - and the way it changed the planet's atmosphere was very unexpected. This is the first time we've ever seen a thing like this on any outer world," said Dr James O'Donoghue, lead researcher on the project.

He added, "The solar wind squished Jupiter's magnetic shield like a giant squash ball. This created a super-hot region that spans half the planet. Jupiter's diameter is 11 times larger than Earth's, meaning this heated region is enormous."

Over the past decade, planetary scientists have closely observed gas giants like Jupiter, Saturn, and Uranus, and this research highlights their susceptibility to solar events. Jupiter, the largest of them, offers a natural laboratory to study how solar storms impact planetary systems, with insights applicable to Earth-bound concerns such as satellite disruptions and power grid vulnerabilities.

The study leveraged a combination of terrestrial observations from the Keck telescope, measurements from NASA's Juno probe, and solar wind simulations. These data revealed that just before the Keck telescope's observations began, a compact region of solar wind had severely compressed Jupiter's vast magnetic field. This compression appears to have triggered intense auroral heating near the poles, driving superheated gases toward the equator and expanding the upper atmosphere.

Previously, scientists believed that Jupiter's rapid spin would contain auroral heating within the polar zones due to strong atmospheric currents. However, this discovery challenges that notion, revealing that solar-driven forces can redistribute heat globally, altering the dynamics of gas giant atmospheres in significant ways.

"Our solar wind model correctly predicted when Jupiter's atmosphere would be disturbed. This helps us further understand the accuracy of our forecasting systems, which is essential for protecting Earth from dangerous space weather," said Professor Mathew Owens, a co-author of the study.

Research Report:Sub-Auroral Heating at Jupiter Following a Solar Wind Compression

Related Links
University of Reading
Solar Science News at SpaceDaily

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters
Tweet

RELATED CONTENT
The following news reports may link to other Space Media Network websites.
SOLAR SCIENCE
NASA's Parker Solar Probe Completes 23rd Close Approach to Sun
Greenbelt MD (SPX) Mar 26, 2025
NASA's Parker Solar Probe completed its 23rd close approach to the Sun on March 22, equaling its own distance record by coming within about 3.8 million miles (6.1 million kilometers) of the solar surface. The close approach (known as perihelion) occurred at 22:42 UTC - or 6:42 p.m. EDT - with Parker Solar Probe moving 430,000 miles per hour (692,000 kilometers per hour) around the Sun, again matching its own record. The spacecraft checked in on Tuesday with mission operators at the Johns Hopkins A ... read more

SOLAR SCIENCE
Northrop Grumman completes milestone undocking of MEV-1 in GEO orbit

Vast expands Haven-1 Lab partnerships with biotech and space science leaders

Vast to Collaborate with CASIS on ISS Research Access

Katy Perry roars into space on all-woman flight

SOLAR SCIENCE
NASA adds critical stage adapter to Artemis II Moon rocket

Outpost awarded contract to develop reentry shield tech for space-based cargo delivery

SpaceX doubleheader: Spy satellites launched in California, then Starlink ones in Florida

Heat Shields Emerging as Crucial Enabler of Reusable Spacecraft

SOLAR SCIENCE
Just Keep Driving - Sols 4507-4508

NASA's Perseverance Mars Rover Studies Trove of Rocks on Crater Rim

A step closer to Martian habitability as lichens endure simulated surface conditions

How to engineer microbes to enable us to live on Mars

SOLAR SCIENCE
Microbial profile mapped aboard China space station

China highlights major strides in moon research and exploration

Space station advances muscle and semiconductor science

China logs 15th orbital mission with launch of Tianlian II-04

SOLAR SCIENCE
Beyond Gravity and Rocket Lab join forces to streamline satellite constellation deployment

SpaceX launches 27 Starlink satellites into low-Earth orbit

Musk announces Starlink license for Somalia

Space Collision Threat Fuels Urgency in Orbital Safety Market

SOLAR SCIENCE
Sierra Space teams with Honda and Tec-Masters for ISS clean energy test

Space Systems Command Launches Orbital Watch, Providing Critical Threat Information to Commercial Sector

Two-dimensional semiconductors demonstrate space readiness for next-gen devices

Velo3D secures five-year $15 million deal with Momentus to expand AM capabilities

SOLAR SCIENCE
How alien energy patterns may reveal extraterrestrial life

Scientists uncover dominant new microbe group deep in Earth's soil

Saturn's moon Titan could harbor life, but only a tiny amount, study finds

What null results in the search for life could still reveal

SOLAR SCIENCE
20 years of Hubble data reveals evolving weather patterns on Uranus

NASA's Hubble Telescope May Have Uncovered a Triple System in the Kuiper Belt

NASA's Europa Clipper Leverages Mars for Critical Gravity Assist

Oort cloud resembles a galaxy, new study finds

Subscribe Free To Our Daily Newsletters




The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.