Jupiter’s iconic bands of clouds have captivated scientists and stargazers for centuries. However, until now, the true nature of these clouds has remained a mystery.
A recent study by citizen scientists and professional researchers has revealed that Jupiter’s visible clouds are not primarily composed of ammonia ice, as previously thought. Instead, they lie deeper in the atmosphere than expected, where temperatures are too warm for ammonia ice to form.
This breakthrough challenges previous models of Jupiter’s atmosphere and offers new insights into the gas giant’s complex weather systems and chemical processes. A team led by Dr. Steven Hill used commercially available telescopes and colored filters to study Jupiter’s atmosphere, capturing detailed maps of ammonia levels and cloud heights.
Their findings were built upon by Professor Patrick Irwin from the University of Oxford, who applied advanced modeling techniques using data from the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) at the European Southern Observatory’s Very Large Telescope. The team confirmed that the clouds cannot be pure ammonia ice.
While the findings show that ammonia ice clouds are not dominant in Jupiter’s atmosphere, they do appear occasionally in specific conditions. These fleeting formations have been captured by spacecraft and are influenced by photochemical reactions triggered by sunlight.
The discovery highlights the power of collaboration between citizen scientists and professional researchers. Dr. Hill’s innovative approach demonstrates how amateurs can make significant contributions to professional research using accessible tools and techniques.
This breakthrough also opens up new possibilities for comparative studies of Jupiter and Saturn, another gas giant with striking atmospheric features. Understanding these processes could provide broader insights into the atmospheric dynamics of gas giants across the solar system and beyond.
Source: https://dailygalaxy.com/2025/01/jupiters-clouds-astronomers-discovery