A strong solar wind wave slammed into Jupiter, compressing its magnetic field and creating intense auroras that created a widespread heat wave.
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This is an animation of the January 2017 Jupiter heatwave. Scientists used spectroscopic data from the Keck II Telescope at Mauna Kea, Hawaii, to create the heat map. It is superimposed on a Hubble image of Jupiter. Now, based on data from the Juno spacecraft, scientists think a powerful solar wind wave slammed into Jupiter's magnetic field. As a result, it created intense auroras that heated the upper atmosphere at the pole, and that heat spilled down to lower latitudes. Video via James O'Donoghue. In 2017, a powerful solar wind burst compressed Jupiter's magnetic field. Scientists were able to observe the effects of it for the first time. compressed Jupiter's magnetic field. Scientists were able to observe the effects of it for the first time. The compressed magnetic field triggered intense auroras at Jupiter's poles, which heated the upper atmosphere. Then, that heat spilled down to lower latitudes. at Jupiter's poles, which heated the upper atmosphere. Then, that heat spilled down to lower latitudes. This study helps improve understanding of how solar wind affects planets like Jupiter and provides insights into solar storms that could impact Earth's technology, such as GPS and power grids. 2025 EarthSky lunar calendar is available. A unique and beautiful poster-sized calendar with phases of the moon for every night of the year. Get yours today! Scientists surprised by heatwave on Jupiter The sun constantly emits a flow of charged particles, called the solar wind, that spreads across our solar system. The intensity of this solar wind can vary, sometimes erupting out of the sun as a powerful burst. In January 2017, one such strong burst slammed into Jupiter, and for the first time, scientists were able to observe it. Scientists from the University of Reading in the U.K. said on April 3, 2025, that the burst compressed the Jovian magnetic field, resulting in intense auroras. That, in turn, heated the upper atmosphere, and the heat spilled across an enormous…