Lesson Three Topics

Lesson Three Overview
Types of Radiation
Thermal Radiation
Synchrotron Radiation
Planetary Radio Sources
Radio Stars
Radio Galaxies
Quasars
Black Holes
The Milky Way: Our Own Radio Galaxy

	Activities and Quizzes

Lesson Three : Planetary Radio Sources

There are several sources of radio waves within our own solar system. The sun is, of course, the strongest source of radio waves in the solar system but each of the planets also emits radio energy. With the exception of Jupiter and, to a lesser extent, Saturn, most of the radio waves from the planets are thermal in nature. This radiation gives us fairly accurate readings of the surface temperatures of the various planets.

By far the most intense planetary radio source is the Jupiter, our solar system’s largest planet. While Jupiter emits thermal radiation in a manner similar to the other planets, its non-thermal synchrotron radiation far exceeds its thermal radiation.

Jupiter’s magnetic field is around 19,500 times more powerful than that of Earth, and encompasses its four major moons. One of Jupiter’s moons, Io, is covered with volcanoes and pumps 10 tons of energetic particles into space per second. These particles, when caught in Jupiter’s intense magnetic field, create a ring of strong radio emission that surrounds the planet. This ring, called the Io Plasma Torus, creates a strong electric current between itself and Jupiter, which stimulates more radio emissions from the planet’s upper atmosphere.