Does Jupiter Have a Magnetic Field? Jupiter has a vast and very complex magnetic field. While Jupiter has only a small rock and metalcore about Earth’s size, the core is surrounded by an extensive layer of liquid hydrogen with metallic properties such as conductivity. Combined with Jupiter’s fast rate of rotation at only about 10 hours per cycle, the liquid hydrogen produces a powerful magnetic field, which is about 20,000 times stronger than Earth’s magnetic field. * [“Jupiter and Saturn” University of Northern Iowa]
Jupiter’s Magnetosphere
The enormous magnetosphere of Jupiter has a diameter of 30 million kilometers, which is even larger than the sun. The large magnetosphere interacts with the charged particles that make up the solar wind. The solar wind pushes the magnetosphere into an elongated shape that extends beyond the orbit of Saturn. [“Jupiter’s Magnetic Field.” Georgia State University]
Aurorae of Jupiter
Credit: John T. Clarke (U. Michigan), ESA, NASA
The magnetic field of Jupiter can be observed by the strong aurorae usually visible at its poles. Ions follow the magnetic field lines down to the pole in the atmosphere, where they interact with atmospheric particles to produce light. The aurorae of Jupiter are some of the most active in the solar system because the atmosphere of Jupiter receives a flux of ions from Ios, its volcanically active moon, greatly increasing the frequency and intensity of aurorae. [“A Close Up of Aurora on Jupiter.” NASA]
*Some sources place this number at more than 20,000 times Earth’s. [“The Outer Planets: Giant Planets: Magnetospheres” Colorado State University]
Resources
- University of Northern Iowa – Jupiter and Saturn
- Georgia State University – Hyperphysics – Jupiter’s Magnetic Field
- NASA – Astronomy Picture of the Day – Close Up of Aurora on Jupiter
- University of Colorado Boulder – Laboratory for Atmospheric and Space Physics – The Outer Planets: Giant Planets: Magnetospheres
