Lightning Spotted At Jupiter's Poles & Photographed

[Saul Trabal]

The New Horizons spacecraft, en route to Pluto, stopped by Jupiter for a gravity assist to help it slingshot toward Pluto, thereby cutting the trip short by three years. While at the giant planet, New Horizons examined it and its moons. It recorded the first evidence of lightning at the north and south poles of the gas planet.

Go to this link to read an article on the Jupiter observations of lightning:

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/news_center/news/100907.htm

Go to this link to view actual flashes of polar lightning in the Jovian clouds, as well as other pictures of Jupiter and its moons:

http://pluto.jhuapl.edu/gallery/sciencePhotos.html

 

[John Olexa]

Pretty neat!
I want Pluto back as a planet!!