PIA02880: Polarized Light from Jupiter
 Target Name:  Jupiter
 Is a satellite of:  Sol (our sun)
 Mission:  Cassini-Huygens
 Spacecraft:  Cassini Orbiter
 Instrument:  Imaging Science Subsystem 
 Product Size:  1157 x 633 pixels (w x h)
 Produced By:  CICLOPS / University of Arizona
 Primary Data Set:  Cassini
 Full-Res TIFF:  PIA02880.tif (113.6 kB)
 Full-Res JPEG:  PIA02880.jpg (17 kB)

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Original Caption Released with Image:

These images taken through the wide angle camera near closest approach in the deep near-infrared methane band, combined with filters which sense electromagnetic radiation of orthogonal polarization, show that the light from the poles is polarized. That is, the poles appear bright in one image, and dark in the other. Polarized light is most readily scattered by aerosols. These images indicate that the aerosol particles at Jupiter's poles are small and likely consist of aggregates of even smaller particles, whereas the particles at the equator and covering the Great Red Spot are larger. Images like these will allow scientists to ascertain the distribution, size and shape of aerosols, and consequently, the distribution of heat, in Jupiter's atmosphere.

Image Credit:
NASA/JPL/University of Arizona

Image Addition Date:
2001-01-23