Beat 3 billion kilometers in 5 years. Juno probe finally in orbit of Jupiter – Dziennik.pl

– Poll Juno entered orbit 35 minutes after the ongoing maneuver slowing down near the planet. Jupiter its gravitational tentacle probe intercepted and stopped it on its orbit – summed up Tuesday’s action NASA astronomer Karol Wojcicki associated with the Copernicus Science Centre. Now Juno year will revolve around the largest planet of the Solar System. As said astronomer on one lap Jupiter, Juno will need 53 days, and those over 30 laps scheduled

Dr Krzysztof Ziolkowski of the Space Research Centre of Polish Academy of Sciences pointed out that the probe will be very close to the surface layers of Jupiter – at the moment of closest approach will be a distance of only 5 thousand. km. – Jupiter is a gaseous planet, no hard surface – reminded astronomer and explained that on this planet atmosphere flows into the surface layers. The landing on Jupiter and mission similar to the mission of the rover Curiosity on Mars so there is no way.

Dr Ziolkowski said that the study of Jupiter will shed light on how to generate large planets around other stars. Because only those most planets around stars more scientists are able to observe the event.

Wojcicki pointed turn attention to the fact that scientists still it is not clear where exactly Jupiter was formed – I used to could, for example. Circulate closer or farther than the Sun today. – To check this, the probe will examine the amount of water in the planet’s atmosphere – said Wojcicki. In addition to examining composition of the atmosphere of Jupiter , Juno will study, amongst others, magnetic and gravitational field of the planet, as well as the interaction of the solar wind on the atmosphere – including auroras.

– We focus on a lot of interesting information. Do not expect, however, that it will be so much beautiful and spectacular pictures, as in the case of Cassini, which provided, among others, beautiful photographs of Saturn – compared Wojcicki. Besides, he added, the camera in just one year is likely to be damaged by radiation.

– Previously, we only had one opportunity to examine closely the Jupiter – it was Galileo spacecraft, which orbited there in 1995-2003 – reminded Wojcicki. Dr. Ziolkowski added that the probe Juno deepen information obtained by Galileo – with a special focus on is to understand the processes that govern the formation of planets around other stars.

Wojcicki expressed the hope that the current mission will give scientists the ground for a future mission, which can be directed to the moons of Jupiter. – And they are probably the most fascinating place to explore the solar system – said popularizer of science. Wojcicki recalled that Jupiter has four moons – including Europe, which discovered the giant ocean covered with ice. – Many people have hopes that this will take a look at the moon in the next mission – commented astronomer. – But to the moon to explore, you need to understand their great companion – the planet Jupiter – emphasized.

Juno its mission began in August 2011. On the way, beat nearly 3 billion kilometers. In 2018. Probe eventually “dives” in the atmosphere of Jupiter and completes its mission.