File:Jupiter xray ill.jpg

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English: Jupiter shows intense X-ray emission associated with auroras in its polar regions (Chandra image on left). The accompanying schematic illustrates how Jupiter's unusually frequent and spectacular auroral activity is produced. Jupiter's strong, rapidly rotating magnetic field (light blue lines) generates strong electric fields in the space around the planet. Charged particles (white dots), trapped in Jupiter's magnetic field, are continually being accelerated (gold particles) down into the atmosphere above the polar regions, so auroras are almost always active on Jupiter. Observation period: 17 hrs, 24-26 Feb 2003
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Source http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2005/jupiter/jupiter_xray_ill.jpg
http://chandra.harvard.edu/photo/2005/jupiter/jupiter_xray_ill.tif
Author X-ray: NASA/CXC/MSFC/R.Elsner et al.; Illustration: CXC/M.Weiss
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Electric voltages of about 10 million volts, and currents of 10 million amps - a hundred times greater than the most powerful lightning bolts - are required to explain the auroras, which are a thousand times more powerful than those on Earth.

On Earth, auroras are triggered by solar storms of energetic particles, which disturb Earth's magnetic field. As shown by the swept-back appearance in the illustration, gusts of particles from the Sun also distort Jupiter's magnetic field, and on occasion produce auroras.

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Public domain This file is in the public domain in the United States because it was solely created by NASA. NASA copyright policy states that "NASA material is not protected by copyright unless noted". (See Template:PD-USGov, NASA copyright policy page or JPL Image Use Policy.)
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2 March 2005

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current07:04, 7 May 2015Thumbnail for version as of 07:04, 7 May 20155,100 × 2,478 (592 KB)Jcpag2012full resolution
19:03, 11 September 2009Thumbnail for version as of 19:03, 11 September 20091,224 × 595 (311 KB)Marshallsumter{{Information |Description={{en|1=Jupiter shows intense X-ray emission associated with auroras in its polar regions (Chandra image on left). The accompanying schematic illustrates how Jupiter's unusually frequent and spectacular auroral activity is produc

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