Jupiter as mirror for the sun’s X rays

Scientists have tracked down the source for the X rays that stream from Jupiter’s midriff. Rather than deriving from the planet itself, those X rays arise in the sun and are reflected by the giant planet’s atmosphere, the researchers found.

FOGGED MIRROR. Europe’s XMM-Newton satellite captured this view of Jupiter, showing copious X-ray emissions from polar auroras, along with the fainter reflection of solar X rays from near the planet’s equator.