# NASA's Webb Discovers New Feature in Jupiter's Atmosphere NASA's James Webb Space Telescope has made a groundbreaking discovery in Jupiter's atmosphere by detecting a high-speed jet stream that spans over 3,000 miles wide and is located above the planet's equator. This previously unseen feature offers insights into the interactions of different layers within Jupiter's turbulent atmosphere and highlights the unique capabilities of the Webb telescope for tracking such phenomena. The jet stream, which moves at around 320 miles per hour and is situated about 25 miles above Jupiter's clouds, was detected through data collected by Webb's Near-Infrared Camera (NIRCam) in July 2022. Webb's observations focus on higher-altitude layers of Jupiter's atmosphere, enabling the resolution of finer details within the hazy band above the equator. The research team, led by Ricardo Hueso of the University of the Basque Country, compared Webb's high-altitude wind data with observations from the Hubble Space Telescope to measure changes in wind speed with altitude and generate wind shears. This comparison allowed for a better understanding of the three-dimensional structure of storm clouds in Jupiter's equatorial atmosphere. The researchers plan to conduct further observations to determine whether the jet's speed and altitude change over time and to explore its connection with Jupiter's stratospheric pattern. This unexpected discovery demonstrates the ongoing potential for learning more about Jupiter's atmosphere, even after years of observations from various telescopes and spacecraft. ## References 1. [NASA's Webb Discovers New Feature in Jupiter's Atmosphere](https://webbtelescope.org/contents/news-releases/2023/news-2023-147) 2. # Footnotes