Jovian auroral ovals inferred from infrared H(sub 3)(super +) images

A study of the infrared H3+ images of Jupiter's polar regions reveals that there is a highly extended thermosphere of precipitating particles in the auroral regions. The study is performed using infrared H3+ images obtained from the ProtoCam camera with infrared telescope facility. The extended thermosphere is caused by the characteristic broad energy spectrum of precipitating particles. The energy spectrum is observed in the polar regions of the planet.