Everything's More Badass on Jupiter, Including Auroras

What you're seeing is hundreds of times more energetic than our Northern Lights.

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Jupiter sees your Northern Lights and raises you this absolutely stunning aurora that is larger than our entire planet.

It's going to be a big month for the biggest planet in our solar system. On Monday, the 4th of July, NASA's Juno spacecraft will arrive at Jupiter and study it from closer than any spacecraft has ever gone. As a prelude to that arrival, NASA released this gorgeous shot by the Hubble Space Telescope in which you can see the Great Red Spot, the bands of furious gases, and the lovely aurora over the north pole captured in ultraviolet.

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Here it is moving:

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As is the case on Earth, auroras happen on Jupiter because high-energy particles from space run into atoms of gas in the atmosphere near the planet's magnetic pole. But unlike Earth's auroras, Jupiter's never end. NASA explains why in its press release.

While on Earth the most intense auroras are caused by solar storms — when charged particles rain down on the upper atmosphere, excite gases and cause them to glow red, green and purple — Jupiter has an additional source for its auroras. The strong magnetic field of the gas giant grabs charged particles from its surroundings. This includes not only the charged particles within the solar wind but also the particles thrown into space by its orbiting moon Io, known for its numerous and large volcanoes.

Starting next week we'll be getting even more amazing new images of the fifth planet from the Sun. Hope you're ready for a new desktop wallpaper.

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