@henrikmelin.bsky.social
Reposted
In 2023, #NASAWebb observed a spectacular light show on Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. The planet’s auroras are hundreds of times brighter and more energetic than Earth’s. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, J. Nichols (University of Leicester), M. Zamani (ESA/Webb). 🔭 🧪
November 4, 2025 at 3:23 PM
In 2023, #NASAWebb observed a spectacular light show on Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system. The planet’s auroras are hundreds of times brighter and more energetic than Earth’s. Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, J. Nichols (University of Leicester), M. Zamani (ESA/Webb). 🔭 🧪
Reposted
Before #NASAWebb, it had been 30+ years since astronomers looked closely at Neptune. With Webb, scientists imaged the planet’s auroras and studied its atmosphere, including unexpectedly finding a significant drop in temperature—all at a distance.
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI. 🔭 🧪
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI. 🔭 🧪
October 23, 2025 at 2:33 PM
Before #NASAWebb, it had been 30+ years since astronomers looked closely at Neptune. With Webb, scientists imaged the planet’s auroras and studied its atmosphere, including unexpectedly finding a significant drop in temperature—all at a distance.
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI. 🔭 🧪
Credit: NASA, ESA, CSA, STScI. 🔭 🧪
Reposted
Would you like to analyse these JWST and HST observations of Jupiter’s auroras? What about *brand new ones* to be taken in the next observing cycle? Then apply for my new STFC-funded Postdoc position! Advert closes midnight 14 Sep.
jobs.le.ac.uk/vacancies/11...
#jobs #astro #jwst #jupiter #aurora
jobs.le.ac.uk/vacancies/11...
#jobs #astro #jwst #jupiter #aurora
July 29, 2025 at 1:51 PM
Reposted
I was gobsmacked when I first saw these data! I have been looking at Jupiter’s auroras for a long time but I almost fell off my chair when I saw how beautiful it is as viewed by Webb!
NEW: Those undulations aren’t clouds—they’re Jupiter’s aurora as seen by #NASAWebb. Webb observed light from a particular molecule, represented in orange, and found that the planet’s aurora fluctuates on timescales of minutes or seconds: webbtelescope.pub/4kbsB20 🔭 🧪
May 12, 2025 at 12:07 PM
I was gobsmacked when I first saw these data! I have been looking at Jupiter’s auroras for a long time but I almost fell off my chair when I saw how beautiful it is as viewed by Webb!
Reposted
Great write up on Henrik and co.’s discovery of Neptune’s auroras! And I stuck my oar in too.
After decades of nondetections and tantalizing maybes, astronomers have definitively detected an aurora on Neptune. With comments from @jnic.bsky.social . Story by @astrokimcartier.bsky.social
Read and listen here: eos.org/articles/aft...
Read and listen here: eos.org/articles/aft...
After 30-Year Search, Scientists Finally Find an Aurora on Neptune - Eos
The planet’s elusive aurorae are much colder than expected, which is how they evaded detection for so long.
eos.org
April 10, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Great write up on Henrik and co.’s discovery of Neptune’s auroras! And I stuck my oar in too.
Reposted
NEW: Earth doesn't have a monopoly on the aurora. Mars has them. So do Jupiter and Saturn. Even Uranus has glowing lights (ahem).
But for decades, nobody has spied them on Neptune.
Until now. Using JWST, astronomers have finally seen Neptune's skies shimmer.
Me, for @nytimes.com 👇
But for decades, nobody has spied them on Neptune.
Until now. Using JWST, astronomers have finally seen Neptune's skies shimmer.
Me, for @nytimes.com 👇
NASA’s Webb Telescope Spots Auroras on Neptune for the First Time (Gift Article)
The James Webb Space Telescope identified the lights in the distant planet’s atmosphere, which could not be seen by earlier telescopes or spacecraft.
www.nytimes.com
March 26, 2025 at 9:51 PM
NEW: Earth doesn't have a monopoly on the aurora. Mars has them. So do Jupiter and Saturn. Even Uranus has glowing lights (ahem).
But for decades, nobody has spied them on Neptune.
Until now. Using JWST, astronomers have finally seen Neptune's skies shimmer.
Me, for @nytimes.com 👇
But for decades, nobody has spied them on Neptune.
Until now. Using JWST, astronomers have finally seen Neptune's skies shimmer.
Me, for @nytimes.com 👇
Reposted
Northumbria’s Dr Henrik Melin is part of a team of researchers who have captured images of bright auroral activity on Neptune, using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Their findings have been published today in @natureastronomy.bsky.social
Deep space telescope captures Neptune’s auroras for the first time
Scientists from Northumbria University are part of a team of researchers who have captured images of bright auroral activity on Neptune, using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope.
www.northumbria.ac.uk
March 26, 2025 at 11:42 AM
Northumbria’s Dr Henrik Melin is part of a team of researchers who have captured images of bright auroral activity on Neptune, using NASA’s James Webb Space Telescope. Their findings have been published today in @natureastronomy.bsky.social