SPACE scientists, funded by the Swindon-based Particles, Physics and Astronomy Research Council, think they have shed new light on a cosmic mystery.
The team of British scientists have come up with an explanation for the spectacular rings of auroras that have been observed around each pole of the planet Jupiter.
Auroras are caused by charged particles crashing into the top of the atmosphere and making it glow.
On Earth, these particles come from the Sun in a flow of charged particles known as the solar wind. But this cannot account for Jupiter's auroras because the solar wind does not reach the region where the brightest are found.
Now physicists from the University of Leicester say that the glow is caused by an enormous disc of plasma gas which rotates around Jupiter, flowing outwards from the moon Io.
They believe that a stream of charged particles flows between the planet's upper atmosphere and this disk of gas.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article