Magnetic Tornadoes Create Mysterious Earth-Sized UV Ovals at Jupiter’s Poles

Astronomers link these fleeting dark spots to interactions between Jupiter’s magnetic field and atmospheric dynamics.

Earth-sized ultraviolet-dark ovals have been observed at Jupiter’s poles, appearing more frequently at the south pole than the north.
These ovals are thought to form due to magnetic vortices caused by friction between Jupiter’s magnetic field and its ionosphere, as well as plasma from its volcanic moon Io.
The spots are visible only in ultraviolet light and absorb more UV radiation than their surroundings, making them appear dark in images from the Hubble Space Telescope.
The hazy ovals are 50 times denser than typical atmospheric haze, forming over approximately a month and dissipating within weeks.
The findings, derived from Hubble’s OPAL project data, highlight the complex connections between Jupiter’s magnetic field, atmosphere, and satellite interactions.