Event Details

Space and Planetary Physics seminar

Abstract: Jupiter’s aurora is the most powerful in the solar system. By studying the aurora, this not only furthers our understanding of how fundamental plasma processes vary in our solar system but also helps shape predictions for exoplanet aurora. Using infrared observations of H3+ emission, we can derive the properties of Jupiter’s ionosphere, including intensity, line-of-sight velocity, and temperature. These measurements can be used to answer some key open questions: Is Jupiter’s aurora coupled to the solar wind and how? Jupiter’s upper atmosphere is several hundred degrees hotter than solar input alone can explain, but how does auroral heating contribute to solving the “energy crisis”? In this seminar, I will outline some of the H3+ used to investigate these questions and explain the next steps that will need to be taken to reach a solution.