‘Triple Vision’ Image Of Jupiter Shows What’s Beneath Its Clouds

“Back in 2017, Hubble and Gemini North viewed Jupiter simultaneously. These multiwavelength views revealed the origin and properties of numerous phenomena. Dark infrared regions, including the Great Red Spot (and "Red Spot Jr.”), possess thick clouds. However, tiny infrared “dots” indicate downdrafts, creating convection and enabling Jovian lightning storms. Visible cloud breaks in Jupiter’s bands appear hot, allowing infrared emission through.“

Almost every image of Jupiter, our largest planet, comes to us as the result of observations made in visible light. That’s too bad, because by looking at Jupiter in multiple different wavelengths simultaneously, we can learn so much more than just from one, narrow band of viewing.

Well, on January 11, 2017, infrared, optical, and ultraviolet observations occurred simultaneously! Here’s what we saw and learned.