Space & Astronomy

Juno probe is less than a month from Jupiter

By T.K. Randall
June 10, 2016

Image: Jupiter
Credit: (PD) NASA/STSCI (S.T.A.R.S) Launched back in 2011, Juno will be studying Jupiter's atmosphere, magnetosphere and gravity field in an effort to unravel the secrets of the gas giant's origins, structure and weather patterns.

Its instruments include a microwave radiometer, a magnetometer, an infrared auroral mapper and a high-resolution color camera that will take the most detailed ever shots of Jupiter's polar regions.Unlike most probes sent to the gas giants and beyond, Juno will be powered by a large array of solar panels as oppose to conventional radioisotope thermoelectric generators.

During its mission it will also be in a constant state of spin - something that will make it easier to control and will enable its instruments to point towards the planet once during each rotation.

"We're currently closing the distance between us and Jupiter at about four miles per second," said principal investigator Scott Bolton. "But Jupiter's gravity is tugging at us harder every day and by the time we arrive we'll be accelerated to 10 times that speed - more than 40 miles per second."

Source: The Verge

Tags: Jupiter, Juno