APOD: Cyclones at Jupiter's North Pole (2018 Mar 08)

[APOD Robot]

Cyclones at Jupiter's North Pole

Explanation: Juno's Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper data was used to construct this stunning view of cyclones at Jupiter's North Pole. Measuring the thermal emission from Jovian cloud tops, the infrared the observations are not restricted to the hemisphere illuminated by sunlight. They reveal eight cyclonic features that surround a cyclone about 4,000 kilometers in diameter, just offset from the giant planet's geographic North Pole. Similar data show a cyclone at the Jovian South Pole with five circumpolar cyclones. The South Pole cyclones are slightly larger than their northern cousins. Cassini data has shown that gas giant Saturn's north and south poles each have a single cyclonic storm system.

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[RocketRon]

Any theories as why the large difference/variations in the numbers of storm systems around the poles on Jupiter and Saturn. ?

Viscosity of the atmosphere perhaps ?
Speed of rotation ?
Heating of the atmosphere from within ?
Exposure to sunlight ?

[neufer]

Satellite view of the atmospheric circulation at the South Pole. Source: NASA

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Any theories as why the large difference/variations in the numbers of storm systems around the poles on Jupiter and Saturn. ?

Viscosity of the atmosphere perhaps ?
Speed of rotation ?
Heating of the atmosphere from within ?
Exposure to sunlight ?

Probably:

• Speed of rotation

• Heating/cooling of the atmosphere from within

[De58te]

I doubt it is speed of rotation as Jupiter and Saturn's rotations differ only by half an Earth hour. [Unless new measurements have been taken that I haven't heard about.] My guess could be mass, Jupiter is 3 times more massive than Saturn, and axle tilt, Jupiter is nearly straight up and down to the ecliptic, whereas Saturn is more titled than Earth is, and Saturn must experience seasons similar to Earth.

[neufer]

I doubt it is speed of rotation as Jupiter and Saturn's rotations differ only by half an Earth hour. [Unless new measurements have been taken that I haven't heard about.] My guess could be mass, Jupiter is 3 times more massive than Saturn, and axle tilt, Jupiter is nearly straight up and down to the ecliptic, whereas Saturn is more titled than Earth is, and Saturn must experience seasons similar to Earth.

• Speed of rotation

• Heating/cooling of the atmosphere from within

[Strangerbarry]

I might be imagining it, but it looked to me like the makings of a polar hexagon similar to polar Saturn. Leads me to wonder if there might be cyclones on Saturn, invisible above the surface, that buffet gasses into a hexagonal shape ?

[Petrus]

Just for fun: this picture is unbelievable, Jupiter looks like a giant italian pizza with spicy salami!

[Strangerbarry]

Yes, and because Jupiter's rotational axis is straight up and down relative to the ecliptic, the cheese shouldn't slide off

[bystander]

Other recent Juno findings and papers: viewtopic.php?t=38088

[saturno2]

Interesting but.... the North Pole of Saturn is more
beautiful that North Pole of Jupiter

[Rob]

Does anyone know what is the white dot smear near the top right-center of the photo?

[Bobarino]

This picture made me hungry

[sallyseaver]

What is the interpretation of the colors? Is this a true-color infrared such that the white parts are cool and the red parts are hot?

[neufer]

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UN-enhanced JunoCam true-color

What is the interpretation of the colors? Is this a true-color infrared such that the white parts are cool and the red parts are hot?

JunoCam is primarily an 'enhanced true-color' visible camera/telescope used primarily for outreach.

<<JunoCam (or JCM) is the visible-light camera/telescope of the Juno Jupiter orbiter. It has a field of view of 58 degrees with four filters (3 for visible light). JunoCam is not one of the probe's core scientific instruments; it was put on board primarily for public science and outreach, to increase public engagement, and to make all images available on NASA's website. In addition to visible light filters, it also has a near infrared filter to help detect clouds; a methane filter in addition the visible color filters.>>

[longtry]

No one sees it as a sign that the Kyubi is being sealed inside the planet? Guess I'm a bit too young...