Even when viewed sideways, Jupiter shines.
Astronomers are busy poring through new data from the James Webb Space Telescope in a continuing rush to spot ever-more- distant galaxies The observatory is studying a lot of objects close to home.
Jupiter is one of the targets. A program meant to demonstrate the telescope's potential to study our own solar system as well as the distant universe has allowed the telescope to revisit the massive planet.
The James Webb Space Telescope has its first photos in the gallery.
The Great Red Spot, Jupiter's massive storm, as well as bands in the planet's atmosphere can be seen in a raw image snapped by the telescope's Near IR Camera on July 27, 2022.
The image, along with other observations, are designed to help scientists understand that atmosphere, as well as studying phenomena such as winds and Auroras.
Scientists used the F212N filter to observe light that has a wavelength of 2.12 microns, about the length of a common bacterium, to create the new image. Scientists can use the data from the filters to study hydrogen.
According to a preliminary schedule released by the Space Telescope Science Institute in Maryland, the observatory's targets for next week include Jupiter's volcanic moon Io.
Observation schedules are never the same. The scientists who requested the data get special access for a year to facilitate their analysis are not being made public.
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