Jupiter as seen by NASA’s Juno spacecraft on its 67th perijove on Nov. 25, 2024.
NASA’s Juno spacecraft accomplished its 67th shut strategy to Jupiter on Nov. 25, 2024, sending again one other tranche of knowledge assembled into some spectacular photos.
Its newest perijove (shut strategy) to the enormous planet on its massively elliptical orbit noticed it enter its closing yr of operations. Launched in 2011, Juno has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016, delivering groundbreaking insights into the planet’s ambiance, magnetic area, and inner construction.
Jupiter as seen by NASA’s Juno spacecraft on its 67th perijove on Nov. 25, 2024.
However, Juno is scheduled to finish its mission on Sept. 15, 2025, when the spacecraft will carry out a “dying dive” into the fuel big throughout its 76th perijove to be destroyed. Only that may assure it will not crash into, and probably pollute, Europa — a moon of Jupiter thought able to internet hosting easy life.
Jupiter as seen by NASA’s Juno spacecraft on its 67th perijove on Nov. 25, 2024.
The photos you see right here come not from NASA’s imaging crew however from a crew of citizen scientists worldwide that downloads the uncooked knowledge from the mission’s web site and processes it into completed photos.
Jupiter as seen by NASA’s Juno spacecraft on its 67th perijove on Nov. 25, 2024.
That’s essential as a result of Juno spins because it orbits Jupiter, and its two-megapixel JunoCam digicam consequently takes uncooked photos that want numerous work. Besides JunoCam, the spacecraft has a magnetometer, a gravity science system and a microwave radiometer.
Jupiter as seen by NASA’s Juno spacecraft on its 67th perijove on Nov. 25, 2024.
Two missions are en path to the fuel big Jupiter and set to succeed the Juno spacecraft. The European Space Agency’s JUICE spacecraft, which was launched final yr and is anticipated to reach within the Jovian system by 2031, will picture Jupiter’s moons Europa and Callisto earlier than getting into orbit round Ganymede for an 18-month finale within the mid-2030s.
Jupiter as seen by NASA’s Juno spacecraft on its 67th perijove on Nov. 25, 2024.
NASA’s Europa Clipper, which launched on Oct. 14, 2024, will attain Jupiter somewhat sooner than JUICE in 2030, because of its launching on a bigger, extra highly effective rocket. It will focus its exploration on Jupiter’s moons, emphasizing Europa.
Juno’s subsequent scheduled shut flyby, perijove 68, is ready for Dec. 28, 2024.
Wishing you clear skies and extensive eyes.
