High energy X-rays detected from Jupiter

Scientists at NASA's NuSTAR space observatory have detected high-frequency X-rays emanating from Jupiter.

As the researchers explained, planets do not normally generate X-rays in the range that NuSTAR detects. But Jupiter has a huge magnetic field and rotates very rapidly. Because of this, the planet's magnetosphere acts like a giant particle accelerator, which is why high-energy emissions occur.

Scientists have discovered that the high-energy X-rays were caused by the collision of individual electrons with charged atoms in Jupiter's atmosphere.

The researchers admitted that they still need to study a lot of information to fully explain the recorded radiation. The study could also explain why NASA's Ulysses spacecraft, launched in 1990, did not collide with the planet's X-rays.