Citizen scientists help decipher Jupiter's cloud composition
by Clarence Oxford
Los Angeles CA (SPX) Jan 07, 2025
Citizen scientists and professional astronomers have collaborated to unveil key details about the composition of Jupiter's clouds. Findings indicate the clouds are likely made of ammonium hydrosulphide mixed with smog, refuting previous theories suggesting they consisted of ammonia ice.

The research, published in the Journal of Geophysical Research - Planets, was initiated by amateur astronomer Dr. Steven Hill of Colorado. Using commercially available telescopes equipped with specialized filters, Dr. Hill showcased a method to map ammonia levels and cloud-top pressures in Jupiter's atmosphere. His data revealed the clouds formed in warmer layers of Jupiter's atmosphere, making ammonia ice condensation improbable.

Professor Patrick Irwin from the University of Oxford expanded on Dr. Hill's approach. Leveraging observations captured by the Multi Unit Spectroscopic Explorer (MUSE) on the Very Large Telescope in Chile, his analysis confirmed that Jupiter's primary clouds form in areas too warm for ammonia ice, further supporting their composition as ammonium hydrosulphide.

"I am astonished that such a simple method is able to probe so deep in the atmosphere and demonstrate so clearly that the main clouds cannot be pure ammonia ice!" said Professor Irwin.

Dr. Hill commented, "I always like to push my observations to see what physical measurements I can make with modest, commercial equipment."

This technique provides citizen scientists with a cost-effective way to monitor ammonia and cloud-top pressure changes, contributing to a deeper understanding of Jupiter's meteorological patterns.

John Rogers of the British Astronomical Association noted, "A special advantage of this technique is that it could be used frequently by amateurs to link visible weather changes on Jupiter to ammonia variations, which could be important ingredients in the weather."

The study underlines the valuable role amateur astronomers play in planetary science by complementing professional efforts with innovative methods.

Research Report:Clouds and Ammonia in the Atmospheres of Jupiter and Saturn Determined From a Band-Depth Analysis of VLT/MUSE Observations

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Department of Physics, University of Oxford
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