Jupiter and Io

This is a thermal-infrared image of Jupiter, obtained by the ISAAC multi-mode instrument at the 8.2-m VLT ANTU telescope on Paranal on November 14, 2000; the Universal Time (UT) of exposure is indicated. It is part of a series of images showing the dramatically different appearance of Jupiter''s disk and the aurorae when viewed through different thermal-IR imaging filters. Note also the motion of the moon Io (left). The contrast has been enhanced to better show the faint details in the aurorae.

Technical information: This image is based on on-target exposures lasting a total of 30 sec (L-band), 44 sec (4.07 µm), 58 sec (3.28 µm) and 58 sec (3.21 µm), respectively. The real observing time is twice as much, with half of the time spent in the off-target chop position. The fields shown measure 72 x 72 arcsec 2 ; 1 pixel = 0.07 arcsec. North is up and East is left.