NASAs Juno mission captured this infrared view of Jupiters volcanic moon Io on July 5, 2022, when the spacecraft was about 50,000 miles (80,000 kilometers) away. This infrared image was obtained from data collected by the Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) instrument aboard Juno.
After revealing a chest of details about the Jovian moons Ganymede and Europa, the objective to Jupiter is setting its sights on sibling moon Io.
Today (December 15), as part of its continuing expedition of Jupiters inner moons, NASAs Juno objective is set up to get pictures of the Jovian moon Io, the most volcanically active world in the Solar System. Now in the second year of the solar-powered spacecrafts prolonged mission to investigate the interior of Jupiter, Juno carried out a close flyby of Ganymede in 2021 and of Europa previously this year.
” The team is actually thrilled to have Junos prolonged mission consist of the research study of Jupiters moons. With each close flyby, we have actually had the ability to obtain a wealth of new info,” said Juno Principal Investigator Scott Bolton of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. “Juno sensors are created to study Jupiter, but weve been thrilled at how well they can carry out double task by observing Jupiters moons.”.
NASAs Juno mission recorded this infrared view of Jupiters volcanic moon Io on July 5, 2022, when the spacecraft was about 50,000 miles (80,000 kilometers) away.” The group is really delighted to have Junos extended mission include the study of Jupiters moons. With each close flyby, we have actually been able to obtain a wealth of brand-new info,” stated Juno Principal Investigator Scott Bolton of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. “Juno sensing units are designed to study Jupiter, however weve been delighted at how well they can perform double responsibility by observing Jupiters moons.”.
This animation illustrates how the electromagnetic field surrounding Jupiters moon Ganymede (represented by the blue lines) interacts with and interferes with the magnetic field surrounding Jupiter (represented by the orange lines). Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/ Duling.
Various papers based on the June 7, 2021, Ganymede flyby were recently released in the Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets, Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics, and Geophysical Research Letters. They consist of findings on the moons interior, surface structure, and ionosphere, in addition to its interaction with Jupiters magnetosphere, from information obtained during the flyby. Preliminary arise from Junos September 9 flyby of Europa consist of the first 3D observations of Europas ice shell.
Listed below the Ice.
Throughout the flybys, Junos Microwave Radiometer (MWR) included a 3rd dimension to the objectives Jovian moon expedition: It provided an innovative appearance below the water-ice crust of Ganymede and Europa to acquire data on its structure, temperature, and purity down to as deep as about 15 miles (24 kilometers) listed below the surface area.
Visible-light images obtained by the spacecrafts JunoCam, along with by previous missions to Jupiter, shows Ganymedes surface area is identified by a mixture of older dark surface, younger brilliant surface, and brilliant craters, as well as linear features that are potentially connected with tectonic activity.
This illustration portrays NASAs Juno spacecraft soaring over Jupiters south pole. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech.
” When we combined the MWR information with the surface images, we found the distinctions between these various terrain types are not just skin deep,” said Bolton. “Young, intense terrain appears colder than dark surface, with the coldest area sampled being the city-sized effect crater Tros. Preliminary analysis by the science group recommends Ganymedes conductive ice shell might have a typical density of approximately 30 miles or more, with the possibility that the ice might be substantially thicker in specific regions.”.
Magnetospheric Fireworks.
During the spacecrafts June 2021 close technique to Ganymede, Junos Magnetic Field (MAG) and Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment (JADE) instruments tape-recorded data revealing proof of the breaking and reforming of magnetic field connections between Jupiter and Ganymede. Junos ultraviolet spectrograph (UVS) has been observing comparable events with the moons ultraviolet auroral emissions, arranged into 2 ovals that twist around Ganymede.
JunoCam took this picture of Jupiters northern most cyclone (noticeable to the right along the bottom edge of image) on September 29, 2022. Credit: Image information: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/ MSSSImage processing by Navaneeth Krishnan S CC BY 3.0.
” Nothing is easy– or small– when you have the greatest planet in the planetary system as your next-door neighbor,” stated Thomas Greathouse, a Juno researcher from SwRI. “This was the first measurement of this complex interaction at Ganymede. This gives us an extremely early alluring taste of the details we expect to gain from the JUICE”– the ESA (European Space Agency) JUpiter ICy moons Explorer– “and NASAs Europa Clipper objectives.”.
Volcanic Future.
Jupiters moon Io, the most volcanic location in the planetary system, will remain an item of the Juno teams attention for the next year and a half. Their Dec. 15 exploration of the moon will be the very first of 9 flybys– two of them from just 930 miles (1,500 kilometers) away. Juno researchers will utilize those flybys to carry out the first high-resolution monitoring campaign on the magma-encrusted moon, studying Ios volcanoes and how volcanic eruptions engage with Jupiters effective magnetosphere and aurora.
References:.
” Junos Close Encounter With Ganymede– An Overview” by C. J. Hansen, S. Bolton, A. H. Sulaiman, S. Duling, F. Bagenal, M. Brennan, J. Connerney, G. Clark, J. Lunine, S. Levin, W. Kurth, A. Mura, C. Paranicas, F. Tosi, P. Withers, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL099285.
” Global Modeling of Ganymedes Surface Composition: Near-IR Mapping From VLT/SPHERE” by Oliver King and Leigh N. Fletcher, 12 December 2022, Journal of Geophysical Research: Planets.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022JE007323.
” Ganymedes auroral footprint latitude: Comparison with magnetodisc design” by T. Promfu, J. D. Nichols, S. Wannawichian, J. T. Clarke, M. F. Vogt and B. Bonfond, 12 December 2022, Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022JA030712.
” Magnetic Field Conditions Upstream of Ganymede” by Marissa F. Vogt, Fran Bagenal and Scott J. Bolton, 12 December 2022, Journal of Geophysical Research: Space Physics.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022JA030497.
” Ganymede MHD Model: Magnetospheric Context for Junos PJ34 Flyby” by Stefan Duling, Joachim Saur, George Clark, Frederic Allegrini, Thomas Greathouse, Randy Gladstone, William Kurth, John E. P. Connerney, Fran Bagenal, Ali H. Sulaiman, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL101688.
” In situ ion structure observations of Ganymedes outflowing ionosphere” by P.W. Valek, J. H. Waite, F. Allegrini, R. W. Ebert, F Bagenal, S. J. Bolton, J. E. P. Connerney, W. S. Kurth, J. R. Szalay and R.J. Wilson, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL100281.
” UVS Observations of Ganymedes Aurora During Juno Orbits 34 and 35″ by T. K. Greathouse, G. R. Gladstone, P. M. Molyneux, M. H. Versteeg, V. Hue, J. A. Kammer, M. W. Davis, S. J. Bolton, R. S. Giles, J. E. P. Connerney, J.-C. Gerard, D. C. Grodent, B. Bonfond, J. Saur and S. Duling, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL099794.
” Evidence for Magnetic Reconnection at Ganymedes Upstream Magnetopause During the PJ34 Juno Flyby” by R. W. Ebert, S. A. Fuselier, F. Allegrini, F. Bagenal, S. J. Bolton, G. Clark, J. E. P. Connerney, G. A. DiBraccio, W. S. Kurth, S. Levin, D. J. McComas, J. Montgomery, N. Romanelli, A. H. Sulaiman, J. R. Szalay, P. Valek and R. J. Wilson, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL099775.
” Juno Magnetometer Observations at Ganymede: Comparisons With a Global Hybrid Simulation and Indications of Magnetopause Reconnection” by N. Romanelli, G. A. DiBraccio, R. Modolo, J. E. P. Connerney, R. W. Ebert, Y. M. Martos, T. Weber, J. R. Espley, W. S. Kurth, F. Allegrini, P. Valek and S. J. Bolton, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL099545.
” Ganymedes UV Reflectance From Juno-UVS Data” by P. M. Molyneux, T. K. Greathouse, G. R. Gladstone, M. H. Versteeg, V. Hue, J. Kammer, M. W. Davis, S. J. Bolton, R. Giles, J. E. P. Connerney, J. C. Gérard and D. C. Grodent, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL099532.
” Gravity Field of Ganymede After the Juno Extended Mission” by L. Gomez Casajus, A. I. Ermakov, M. Zannoni, J. T. Keane, D. Stevenson, D. R. Buccino, D. Durante, M. Parisi, R. S. Park, P. Tortora and S. J. Bolton, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL099475.
” Ganymede Observations by JunoCam on Juno Perijove 34″ by M. A. Ravine, C. J. Hansen, G. C. Collins, P. M. Schenk, M. A. Caplinger, L. Lipkaman Vittling, D. J. Krysak, R. P. Zimdar, J. B. Garvin and S. J. Bolton, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL099211.
” Surface Features of Ganymede Revealed in Jupiter-Shine by Junos Stellar Reference Unit” by Heidi N. Becker, Meghan M. Florence, Martin J. Brennan, Candice J. Hansen, Paul M. Schenk, Michael A. Ravine, John K. Arballo, Scott J. Bolton, Jonathan I. Lunine, Alexandre Guillaume and James W. Alexander, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL099139.
” Updated Spherical Harmonic Magnetic Field Moments of Ganymede From the Juno Flyby” by Tristan Weber, Kimberly Moore, John Connerney, Jared Espley, Gina DiBraccio, Norberto Romanelli, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL098633.
” Alternating North-South Brightness Ratio of Ganymedes Auroral Ovals: Hubble Space Telescope Observations Around the Juno PJ34 Flyby” by Joachim Saur, Stefan Duling, Alexandre Wennmacher, Clarissa Willmes, Lorenz Roth, Darrell F. Strobel, Frédéric Allegrini, Fran Bagenal, Scott J. Bolton, Bertrand Bonfond, George Clark, Randy Gladstone, Thomas K. Greathouse, Denis C. Grodent, Candice J. Hansen, William S. Kurth, Glenn S. Orton, Kurt D. Retherford, Abigail M. Rymer and Ali H. Sulaiman, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL098600.
” Energetic Charged Particle Observations During Junos Close Flyby of Ganymede” by G. Clark, P. Kollmann, B. H. Mauk, C. Paranicas, D. Haggerty, A. Rymer, H. T. Smith, J. Saur, F. Allegrini, S. Duling, R. W. Ebert, W. S. Kurth, R. Gladstone, T. K. Greathouse, W. Li, F. Bagenal, J. E. P. Connerney, S. Bolton, J. R. Szalay, A. H. Sulaiman, C. J. Hansen and D. L. Turner, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL098572.
” Ganymedes Radiation Cavity and Radiation Belts” by P. Kollmann, G. Clark, C. Paranicas, B. Mauk, D. Haggerty, A. Rymer and F. Allegrini, 12 December 2022, Geophysical Research Letters.DOI: 10.1029/ 2022GL098474.
More About the Mission.
NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a department of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, California, handles the Juno objective for the primary detective, Scott J. Bolton, of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio. Juno is part of NASAs New Frontiers Program, which is handled at NASAs Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama, for the agencys Science Mission Directorate in Washington. Lockheed Martin Space in Denver developed and runs the spacecraft.
NASAs Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), a division of the California Institute of Technology (Caltech) in Pasadena, California, manages the Juno objective for the primary investigator, Scott J. Bolton, of the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio.
