A team of students from Chingford Foundation School along with Orbyts Fellow Bryn Parry from UCL Physics and Astronomy delved into the enigmatic world of Jupiter's X-ray emissions. By analysing data from the XMM-Newton X-ray telescope and employing models of plasma processes, they sought to understand how X-rays are produced in different regions of Jupiter.

Their findings revealed intriguing patterns! The best fit for the observed X-ray spectra in the equatorial and southern regions suggests a strong connection between scattered solar radiation and the X-rays emitted from these areas. In contrast, X-ray spectra from the northern region were compatible with models of a process called charge exchange, where ions precipitating into Jupiter’s atmosphere interact with neutral atoms producing X-rays. The source of these precipitating ions is compatible with the emission of sulphur and oxygen from Jupiter’s moon Io.

This difference between the northern, southern, and equatorial regions highlights the complexity of the processes involved in X-ray production in different parts of Jupiter's magnetosphere. The study also raised intriguing questions about the sudden spike in temperature observed in the northern region between 2019 and 2020 and how the X-ray data could be more closely correlated with solar activity and the state of Jupiter.

This groundbreaking research not only sheds light on the enigmatic world of Jupiter's X-ray emissions but also inspires further exploration of the aurorae on other planets!