Illustration of Jupiter and its associated magnetic field, and its interaction with the volcanic moon Io. Jupiter has a powerful dipole magnetic field with an equatorial strength of 7.8 Gauss (780 micro Tesla). The field is tilted relative to the spin axis by about ten degrees. The field is generated by currents in the planet's interior, in a layer of liquid metallic hydrogen. As on Earth, interactions with the Sun's solar wind and the magnetic field drive aurorae at the magnetic poles. Scientists believe aurora an Jupiter are driving by interaction of this magnetic field with the moon Io, lower right.