. 24/7 Space News .
OUTER PLANETS
SwRI scientists connect the dots between Galilean moon, auroral emissions on Jupiter
by Staff Writers
San Antonio TX (SPX) Apr 06, 2022

NASA's Juno spacecraft flew through the intense beam of electrons traveling from Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon, to its auroral footprint on the gas giant. SwRI scientists used the resulting data to connect the particle population traveling along the beam with associated auroral emissions to unveil the mysterious processes creating the shimmering lights.

On November 8, 2020, NASA's Juno spacecraft flew through an intense beam of electrons traveling from Ganymede, Jupiter's largest moon, to its auroral footprint on the gas giant. Southwest Research Institute scientists used data from Juno's payload to study the particle population traveling along the magnetic field line connecting Ganymede to Jupiter while, at the same time, remotely sensing the associated auroral emissions to unveil the mysterious processes creating the shimmering lights.

"Jupiter's most massive moons each create their own auroras on Jupiter's north and south poles," said Dr. Vincent Hue, lead author of a paper outlining the results of this research. "Each auroral footprint, as we call them, is magnetically connected to their respective moon, kind of like a magnetic leash connected to the moon glowing on Jupiter itself."

Like the Earth, Jupiter experiences auroral light around the polar regions as particles from its massive magnetosphere interact with molecules in the Jovian atmosphere. However, Jupiter's auroras are significantly more intense than Earth's, and unlike Earth, Jupiter's largest moons also create auroral spots. The Juno mission, led by SwRI's Dr. Scott Bolton, is circling Jupiter in a polar orbit and flew through the electron "thread" connecting Ganymede with its associated auroral footprint.

"Prior to Juno, we knew that these emissions can be quite complex, ranging from a single auroral spot to multiple spots, which sometimes trail an auroral curtain that we called the footprint tail," said Dr. Jamey Szalay, a co-author from Princeton University. "Juno, flying extremely close to Jupiter, revealed these auroral spots to be even more complex than previously thought."

Ganymede is the only moon in our solar system that has its own magnetic field. Its mini-magnetosphere interacts with Jupiter's massive magnetosphere, creating waves that accelerate electrons along the gas giant's magnetic field lines, which can be directly measured by Juno.

Two SwRI-led instruments on Juno, the Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment (JADE) and the Ultraviolet Spectrometer (UVS) provided key data for this study, which was also supported by Juno's magnetic field sensor built at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center.

"JADE measured the electrons traveling along the magnetic field lines, while UVS imaged the related auroral footprint spot," said SwRI's Dr. Thomas Greathouse, a co-author on this study.

In this way, Juno is both able to measure the electron "rain" and immediately observe the UV light it creates when it crashes into Jupiter. Previous Juno measurements showed that large magnetic perturbations accompanied the electron beams causing the auroral footprint. However, this time, Juno did not observe similar perturbations with the electron beam.

"If our interpretation is correct, this a confirmation of a decade-old theory that we put together to explain the morphology of the auroral footprints," said Dr. Bertrand Bonfond, a co-author of the study from the Liege University in Belgium. The theory suggests that electrons accelerated in both directions create the multi-spot dance of auroral footprints.

"The Jupiter-Ganymede relationship will be further explored by Juno's extended mission, as well as the forthcoming JUICE mission from the European Space Agency," Hue said. "SwRI is building the next generation of UVS instrumentation for the mission."

Video: SwRI scientists connect the dots between Galilean moon, auroral emissions on Jupiter

Research Report: A Comprehensive Set of Juno In Situ and Remote Sensing Observations of the Ganymede Auroral Footprint


Related Links
Southwest Research Institute
The million outer planets of a star called Sol


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


OUTER PLANETS
Juice's journey and Jupiter system tour
Paris (ESA) Mar 30, 2022
ESA's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer, Juice, is set to embark on an eight-year cruise to Jupiter starting April 2023. The mission will investigate the emergence of habitable worlds around gas giants and the Jupiter system as an archetype for the numerous giant planets now known to orbit other stars. This animation depicts Juice's journey to Jupiter and highlights from its foreseen tour of the giant planet and its large ocean-bearing moons. It depicts Juice's journey from leaving Earth's surface in a l ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

OUTER PLANETS
UCF part of historic civilian space flight to ISS

Space tourism: the arguments in favor

Brazilian Space Chief Says Nations Should Think Long-Term, Keep Space Out of Geopolitics

Arctic simulation of Moon-like habitat shows wellbeing sessions keep you sane

OUTER PLANETS
ISRO likely to launch seven satellites during current year: Govt

First all-private mission docks with ISS

SpinLaunch signs Space Act Agreement to test innovative mass accelerator launch system

Arianespace wins new contract to launch Sentinel-1C observation satellite on board Vega-C

OUTER PLANETS
NASA's Curiosity Mars rover reroutes away from 'Gator-Back' rocks

Citizen scientists help map ridge networks on Mars

Sol 3436: Motion Accomplished

Planetary scientist helps equip rover Perseverance with 4 of the 5 human senses

OUTER PLANETS
Tianzhou 2 re-enters Earth's atmosphere, mostly burns up

Shenzhou XIII astronauts prep for return

China's Tianzhou-2 cargo craft leaves space station core module

China's space station to support large-scale scientific research

OUTER PLANETS
US, Russia Should Cooperate on Leveraging Private Investment for Space Programs - Expert

Benchmark Space Systems triples production capacity to meet thruster and in-space mobility demand

The race to dominate satellite internet heats up

Kleos launches Patrol Mission satellites

OUTER PLANETS
Space debris found in rural India likely from 'China rocket'

Lockheed Martin releases open-source interface standard for on-orbit docking

EU stockpiles radiation drugs amid Ukraine war fears

L3Harris awarded $117M space object-tracking modernization contract

OUTER PLANETS
A Beacon in the Galaxy: Updated Arecibo Message for Potential FAST and SETI Projects

Hubble probes extreme weather on ultra-hot Jovian exoplanets

Kepler telescope delivers new planetary discovery from the grave

NASA simulator helps to shed light on mysteries of Solar System

OUTER PLANETS
A closer look at Jupiter's origin story

SwRI scientists connect the dots between Galilean moon, auroral emissions on Jupiter

Juice's journey and Jupiter system tour

Pluto's giant ice volcanos may have formed from multiple eruption events









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.