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Jupiter's Aurora - HST
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Caption NASA originale:"Auroras are curtains of light resulting from high-energy electrons racing along the planet's magnetic field into the upper atmosphere.
The electrons excite atmospheric gases, causing them to glow.
The image shows the main oval of the aurora, which is centered on the magnetic north pole, plus more diffuse emissions inside the polar cap. The HST image shows also unique emissions from the magnetic "footprints" of 3 of Jupiter's largest moons.
Auroral footprints can be seen in this image from Io (along the lefthand limb), Ganymede (near the center), and Europa (just below and to the right of Ganymede's auroral footprint).
These emissions, produced by electric currents generated by the satellites, flow along Jupiter's magnetic field, bouncing in and out of the upper atmosphere".
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