There is lots about Jupiter that has yet to be discovered. But it appears we've just hit a major breakthrough: NASA's probe, Juno, recently revealed new information about the mysterious planet. From its alarming atmosphere to the Great Red Spot it calls for, here's what researchers uncovered.
Thanks to Juno's probe, the scientific community has just gained a new perspective of looking at the planet - literally. Not only did the probe provide the best 3D model of Jupiter to date, but in doing so, provided a new slew of data. As NASA proudly explained, the mission lent "a deeper understanding of what is happening below Jupiter's cloud cover," something once regarded as an enigma by researchers. Safe to say, a whole lot has changed since then.
Sponsored
Not only did the spacecraft unveil how water behaves deep down in the clouds, but it also revealed new information about the deceptive cyclones present at the planet's poles. But perhaps more notable, Juno unleashed groundbreaking data about Jupiter's infamous Great Red Spot. For starters, not everything is as it seems when it comes to the massive super storm...
Not only is the anticyclone far deeper than researchers initially thought, but it's also nestled up to 500 kilometers beneath Jupiter's cloud tops. According to the recent findings, the Great Red Spot region - perhaps the planet's most notable - is also said to be roughly 1.3 times as wide as Earth's diameter and responsible for storm winds of around 400 miles per hour. But that's not all.
As Lori Glaze, NASA's director of planetary science revealed, Juno unleashed a "treasure chest of new information about Jupiter’s enigmatic observable features." For the first time ever, researchers such as Glaze have been able to map out the planet's clouds, as well as its cyclones and intricate water system.
"This is going to tell us a lot about how giant planets are throughout the galaxy," Juno's principal researcher, Scott Bolton, explained. And with the NASA spacecraft set to continue its exploration until 2025? We've got a feeling there's lots more waiting to be explored.
Stay tuned.
Related
