NASA's
Juno probe, which launched towards Jupiter nearly seven years ago, has given a
image of the biggest planet in our solar system. That was described as “unearthly”
The
space agency released the photos and they show the wind sculpted band which is
nearly 3000 km long. The Jupiter weather layer is equivalent of the mass of 3
earths. The weather layer contains one percent of the planet’s mass the
atmospheric winds of the gas-giant planet run deep into its atmosphere and last
longer than similar atmospheric processes found here on Earth. The findings
will improve understanding of Jupiter’s interior structure, core mass and,
eventually, its origin.
“These
astonishing science results are yet another example of Jupiter’s curve balls,
and a testimony to the value of exploring the unknown from a new perspective
with next-generation instruments”, said Scott Bolton,
“The
very center may contain a core made of high-pressure and high-temperature rocks
and perhaps water, but it is believed to be fluid as well, not solid,” said
planetary scientist Tristan Guillot of the Université Côte d’Azur in Nice,
another of the research leaders.
Juno’s
data showed a small but significant asymmetry between the gravitational field
of Jupiter’s northern and southern hemispheres, driven by the immense jet
streams. The deeper the jets streams go, the more mass they contain, exerting a
strong effect on Jupiter’s gravitational field, Kaspi said.
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