Question

Lightning, an electromagnetic discharge, is known to occur in the atmospheres of other planets, including Jupiter and Saturn. Other than seeing it in an image, how might you expect a spacecraft or observatory on Earth to detect it?

Answer 1

Other than seeing lightning in an image, the spacecraft or observatory on Earth can detect it by some of the follwing methods:-

1. Radio Emission:- Lightning generates small radio waves which can be detected by spacecrafts in planatary magnetosphere.
2. Thunder:- Spacecraft can also detect lightning by thunder. Thunder in simple word is the sound produced by lightning. But to detect the thunder the spacecraft has to be relatively near the storm.
3. Magnetic Signals:- Magnetic signals are also emitted by lightning. As we know that When electric charge is accelerated it also has magnetic field. So the spacecrafts can detect lightning by Magnetic signals also