The first scientific results from the Juno delegation around Jupiter have been released , and they reveal some surprising details about the biggest planet in our Solar System . The finding were presented at the annualEuropean Geosciences Unionin Vienna this workweek .
As reported by Andy Coghlan forNew Scientist , one of the most surprising things was that Jupiter ’s core does not seen to be solid like Earth ’s but is or else “ fuzzy ” , meld with a layer of metal hydrogen above . It appear that the interior of Jupiter is quite maverick , based on gravity mensuration from Jupiter .
scientist have also discover that Jupiter ’s magnetic field is more powerful than we cerebrate . It was believe to be about 5gauss , a measurement of magnetic flux tightness , but may be as much as 9 gauss , ground on close flybys by Juno . Earth ’s magnetic field at its surface is between 0.25 and 0.65 Karl Gauss .
Perhaps even more surprisingly , it appears that Jupiter ’s magnetic sphere is driven not by its core like Earth , but instead by processes read plaza on its aerofoil , according to Coghlan . This conclusion was quarter from Jupiter ’s magnetized playing field fluctuate by up to 2 Karl Friedrich Gauss in unlike region . Yes , Jupiter ’s charismatic field of study may be driven by its control surface . That ’s frickin ’ cool .
Juno has also snapped images of vast Earth - sized cyclones raging in the atmosphere of Jupiter , composed of condensed ammonium hydroxide . And it ’s also seen clouds of ammonia water and hydrazine , known as white spots , in the belts of Jupiter . Scientists have also seen a dense zone of ammonia gas at Jupiter ’s equator , which is further complicate what we think is going on inside the satellite .
Jupiter and one of its white spots seen by Juno on December 11 , 2016 . NASA / JPL - Caltech / SwRI / MSSS / Eric Jorgensen
Juno entered orbit around Jupiter in July 2016 , with 37 close flybys of Jupiter plan through February 2018 . However , a problem with the spacecraft ’s main engine haskept it trappedin a wider orbit , where it will remain until July 2018 , completing just 12 flybys .
That does not seem to have cramp the science so far , with NASA saying they still expected to encounter the scientific goals of the commission . The spacecraft will also pass less time in Jupiter ’s magnetic subject field , so it may even survive beyond July 2018 as it degrades less .
At the instant , it come as close as 4,100 kilometer ( 2,600 miles ) to the satellite , and travels up to 3 million km ( 2 million miles ) off in its sweeping 53 - day orbit . But while the encounters with Jupiter might be few and far between , the scientific discipline look like it ’s going to come thick and fast .
( H / T : New Scientist )
