In a special image captured by NASA’s Juno spacecraft, a strange blue glow flashes amidst the clouds of Jupiter – one of the most easily visible planets from Earth.
Juno is NASA’s spacecraft exploring Jupiter. Its mission, which began in 2016, has unveiled many surprises, leading NASA to declare that this seemingly wild planet, so different from Earth, may still harbor a “strange form of life.”
After spectacular discoveries of water and numerous Earth-like molecules, the mysterious green spot in the image of Jupiter continues to reveal similarities with Earth.
According to Space, NASA confirms that the green spot is a lightning bolt formed in a similar way to lightning on Earth.
The mysterious blue light recorded by Juno is identified as a lightning bolt created in the same way as lightning on Earth – (Photo: NASA).
“On Earth, lightning originates from water clouds and occurs most frequently at the equator. Meanwhile, on Jupiter, lightning is also likely to occur in clouds containing a water-ammonia solution, which is most commonly observed at the poles,” NASA officials explained.
This discovery contributes to a series of findings that have changed NASA’s perspective on the atmosphere beneath the tumultuous clouds visible from above. It indicates another layer of atmospheric weather, lying deep below, possessing traces of heavy elements.
The blue lightning is not only intriguing because it highlights another similarity between this planet and Earth, but also because some recent studies suggest that lightning plays a crucial role in a planet’s ability to generate life.
Notably, Jupiter also captivates scientists with its enormous moons, the most famous of which is Europa – which will be visited by NASA’s Europa Clipper spacecraft, scheduled for launch in late 2024.
