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Jupiter’s atmospheric composition has been called into question through observations made using an old technique by an amateur astronomer, Steve Hill. The findings have indicated that the planet’s iconic swirling clouds may not be composed of ammonia ice, as previously assumed. This revelation stems from data collected with commercial telescopes and spectral filters, presenting new perspectives on the gas giant’s atmospheric dynamics and chemistry. The observations have sparked further investigation into the structure of Jupiter‘s cloud layers.

Findings from Observational Studies

According to research published in Earth and Space Science, Hill applied a method known as band-depth analysis. This technique measures light absorption at specific wavelengths to map the abundance of gases like ammonia and methane in Jupiter’s atmosphere. As reported by space.com, the data revealed that reflective cloud layers are located at pressure levels of 2-3 bar, far deeper than where ammonia ice was expected to condense at 0.7 bar.

Patrick Irwin, a planetary physicist at the University of Oxford, reviewed Hill’s results and confirmed their accuracy through comparisons with data from instruments such as NASA’s Juno spacecraft and ESO’s Very Large Telescope (VLT). He noted to space.com that the main reflection appears to stem from ammonium hydrosulfide clouds or photochemical products, rather than pure ammonia ice.

Implications and Future Research

Reports indicate that these findings underline the role of photochemistry in shaping Jupiter’s atmosphere, where ammonia is often destroyed faster than it can rise to the upper layers. Similar processes have been observed on Saturn, where cloud layers are also deeper than predicted. Researchers aim to refine models by integrating additional data from the VLT, Juno, and other observatories to better understand ammonia’s vertical distribution.

Hill’s approach demonstrates the potential of collaborative efforts between amateur and professional astronomers. These findings not only challenge existing models but also open new pathways for studying atmospheric dynamics on gas giants.

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ESA JUICE Mission Scans Jupiter’s Lunar Crater in Test Run for Alien Life

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August 5, 2025

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ESA JUICE Mission Scans Jupiter's Lunar Crater in Test Run for Alien Life

One of history’s most famous space photographs transformed a lunar crater, and now it has shown researchers how to look for alien life. This view, made possible by the European Space Agency’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) launched in April 2023 and on its way to Jupiter, shows a test of JUICE’s radar system conducted during a recent flyby near the moon, scanning Earthrise crater on the rim of a fresh young impact basin in order to acquire subsurface information. Situated near the lunar far side, site 3 is a scenic spot that has been quiet for billions of years – exactly what planetary scientists were looking for to test some of JUICE’s instruments before studying Jupiter and its icy moons in more detail.

JUICE Validates Radar System at Earthrise Crater, Readies for Deep Space Life Search Around Jupiter

According to an ESA report, the test focused on the Radar for Icy Moon Exploration (RIME) instrument, designed to peer beneath Europa, Ganymede, and Callisto’s frozen shells. During the moon flyby, JUICE instruments were shut down to avoid interfering with RIME radar profiling. They needed their engineers to design an algorithm to “fix” the readings.

And the maps from RIME look almost like they were drawn on top of those created using NASA’s LOLA elevation model and JUICE, which is good news for anyone hoping to find hidden subsurface geology beneath frozen surfaces out in space.

That means 60 years of exploration for the Earthrise crater, which is officially named in honour of Apollo 8 astronaut William Anders and was renamed as such only last year, all thanks to the observations that inspired a generation of environmental thought and our first proper glimpse back at home sweet Earth.

JUICE is now en route to Venus for a gravity-assist manoeuvre before continuing toward Jupiter. Over the next decade, the spacecraft will perform 35 flybys of the gas giant’s largest moons, ultimately orbiting Ganymede between 2034 and 2035 in search of possible signs of life beneath its ice-covered oceans.

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Solar Sail Spacecraft Could Boost Space Weather Warnings by Nearly 60 Minutes

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August 4, 2025

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Solar Sail Spacecraft Could Boost Space Weather Warnings by Nearly 60 Minutes

A potential new solar sail-powered satellite mission is offering an extended early warning of extreme space weather events to safely shut down the most vulnerable pieces of our tech — without waiting for them to fail mid-activity and then figuring out why. Going far beyond Earth in the traditional sense of this type of satellite, the solar sail spacecraft would provide almost 20 more minutes of warning time (up to about 60 minutes total) before some very dangerous geomagnetic storms. These eruptions, called coronal mass ejections, cause space weather events that can disrupt satellites, damage power grids, and expose astronauts to cosmic radiation through the ability to ground high-altitude commercial flights. The better the predictions, the more time for critical systems to respond, so overall it is supposed to work out.

Solar Sail Mission SWIFT Aims to Boost Space Weather Forecasting from Beyond L1 Point

According to a report published by The Conversation and contributed to Space.com, the new SWIFT (Space Weather Investigation Frontier) mission will put a satellite with a lightweight solar sail on it out at 2.1 million kilometers from Earth, which is farther than the existing L1 Lagrange point where solar wind is monitored now. That might mean a longer warning — “lead” time, in space weather speak — which would give satellite operators more time to shield their satellites, prevent astronauts from being exposed to high radiation, and allow airlines to chart the safest ways for planes.

The new solar spacecraft, Solar Cruiser, stays in orbit by a balance created from the Sun’s gravity and solar photons bounced off a reflective sail. And far larger than previous sail missions like NASA’s NanoSail-D2 and JAXA’s IKAROS. This steers the satellite post-launch.

Solar Cruiser, part of the SWIFT constellation, will measure solar wind at several vantage points for better interplanetary space weather forecasting. Enquire for more economical on-ground space weather forecasts and missions such as SWIFT that help protect our planet from imploding due to solar emissions.

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NASA Data Shows Pluto’s Equator Is Lined with Towering Methane Ice Spires

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August 4, 2025

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NASA Data Shows Pluto’s Equator Is Lined with Towering Methane Ice Spires

The skyscraper size of methane ice might cover around 60% of the equatorial region of Pluto, a larger area than astronomers actually estimated. This study was published on July 5, 2025 in the Journal of Geophysical Reserach. It was based on the data from NASA’s New Horizons spacecraft which captured close images of it around 10 years ago on July 14, 2025. Amid that flyby, the spacecraft located spires of methane ice, each is about 1000 feet tall.

Pluto’s Methane Spires Span Vast Equatorial Zone with Uncertain Pattern

As per NASA’s data they are separated to 4.4 miles in a shape which is somewhat parallel rows and form a geological feature which is called bladed terrain. The features seems to be larger and more spaced out verison of the penitentes of Earth which is a structure of water ice that creates a maximum of 9 feet. Almost the same structure was observed on Jupiter’s moon named Europa and also might be there on Mars.

Additional data collected at infrared frequencies signaled that the dwarf planet’s most of the region was methane rich, which shows that the spires are too. The results show that the bladed terrain of methane ice spires exists in a band that spans about 60% of the circumference of the planet.

Future Missions Needed to Confirm Pluto’s Mysterious Methane Landscape

This is equal to five times the width of the United States continental part, majority spotted on non-encounter hemispheres. However, it is still nort sure if the band is patchy or even. The band spans between 30 degrees south and north of the equator of Pluto.

Bladed terrain formation relies on methane’s long term cycle condensation and sublimation. These are controlled by the season of Pluto and its orbital variations. Straight evidence would be required to confirm the recent observations by the scientists. The most certain way to confirm the extension of bladed terrain into the dark side of Pluto is the future spacecraft mission.

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