Southwest Research Institute will lead a large Space Telescope Science Institute task using the Hubble and James Webb telescopes to from another location study Io during complementary flybys of the Jupiter moon by NASAs Juno spacecraft. Junos upcoming flybys offer an excellent opportunity for integrating intensive in situ measurements with Earth-based remote noticing to understand Ios volcanic contributions to the plasma environment around Jupiter. The research study will match the upcoming flybys of the Jupiter moon by NASAs Juno spacecraft and will supply insights into Ios contributions to the plasma environment around Jupiter. “We hope to acquire new insights into Ios significant volcanism, plasma-moon interactions, and the neutral gas and plasma populations that propagate through Jupiters huge magnetosphere and trigger intense Jovian auroral emissions.”
While the Europa Clipper and Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) objectives are arranged to get here at Jupiter in 2029-2031, neither of these objectives fly by Io.
SwRI is leading a research study to understand how Io, the most volcanic body in our planetary system, adds to Jupiters plasmasphere. Junos JIRAM instrument images Ios hot spots, data that will be complemented by Hubble and Webb telescope datasets. Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/ ASI/INAF/JIRAM.
The Complex Dynamics of Io and Jupiter.
Ios escaping atmosphere is the dominant source of material in the Jovian magnetosphere, a large bubble of charged particles swirling around the gas giant. Nevertheless, the connection between the volcanos, surface area volatiles, atmosphere, and magnetospheric plasma interaction to Ios extended neutral clouds, the Io Plasma Torus (IPT), and Jupiters ionosphere stays hard to quantify and understand.
” The couplings between time-variable processes are central to comprehending the Jupiter system holistically,” stated Dr. Fran Bagenal, the tasks co-principal investigator from the University of Colorado at Boulder. “For example, how much sulfur is carried from Io to Europas surface area? How do auroral features on Io compare to aurora in the world– the northern lights– and Jupiter?”.
Ionization and Plasma Interactions.
Io, the innermost big moon of Jupiter, supplies most of the charged particles in the worlds magnetosphere. The IPT is a donut-shaped cloud of electrons and ions surrounding Jupiter, produced when climatic gases escaping from Io are ionized. Electrons collide with the ions, which soak up energy from the accidents and release it as ultraviolet light, which can be detected by telescopes.
” Most of these products dont actually escape right out of the volcanoes however rather are associated with the sublimation of sulfur dioxide frost from Ios dayside surface,” said Caltechs Dr. Katherine de Kleer, another co-investigator with proficiency in James Webb information analysis. “The interaction between Ios environment and the surrounding plasma provides the escape mechanism for gases launched from the moons frozen surface.”.
The Significance of Junos Flybys.
Junos Io flybys on December 30, 2023, and February 1, 2024, are especially close. While the Europa Clipper and Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) objectives are scheduled to get here at Jupiter in 2029-2031, neither of these objectives fly by Io.
” The possibility for a holistic approach to Io examinations has not been available since a series of Galileo spacecraft flybys in 1999-2000 were supported by Hubble with a prolific 30-orbit campaign,” Retherford stated. “The combination of Junos extensive in situ measurements with our remote-sensing observations will undoubtedly advance our understanding of Ios function in driving combined phenomena in the Jupiter system.”.
Southwest Research Institute will lead a big Space Telescope Science Institute task using the Hubble and James Webb telescopes to from another location study Io throughout complementary flybys of the Jupiter moon by NASAs Juno spacecraft. Junos upcoming flybys offer an outstanding opportunity for integrating extensive in situ measurements with Earth-based remote sensing to understand Ios volcanic contributions to the plasma environment around Jupiter. Credit: SwRI/John Spencer
Remote-sensing data will match Juno spacecrafts in situ observations.
The Space Telescope Science Institute recently granted Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) a large job to utilize the Hubble and James Webb telescopes to from another location study Io, the most volcanically active body in the planetary system. The research study will match the upcoming flybys of the Jupiter moon by NASAs Juno spacecraft and will supply insights into Ios contributions to the plasma environment around Jupiter. Large Hubble tasks ask for 75 orbits or more; this task will gather information during 122 orbits, which is how Hubble telescope time is designated.
Collaborative Observational Opportunities
” The timing of this project is critical. Over the next year, Juno will buzz previous Io numerous times, offering unusual opportunities to integrate in situ and remote observations of this complex system,” said SwRIs Dr. Kurt Retherford, primary investigator of the project, mainly using 4.7% of available time for Hubble observations this cycle and supplemented with 4.8 hours of Webb observing time. “We intend to acquire brand-new insights into Ios dramatic volcanism, plasma-moon interactions, and the neutral gas and plasma populations that propagate through Jupiters vast magnetosphere and trigger extreme Jovian auroral emissions.”