NASA develops first 3D map of radiation environment surrounding Jupiter

Scientists participating in NASA's Juno mission have for the first time painted a complete picture of the extremely harsh radiation environment surrounding the gas giant planet Jupiter.

This detailed 3D map not only depicts the intensity of high-energy particles near the orbit of the icy moon Europa, but also shows how smaller moons orbiting near Jupiter's rings impact the complex structure of this radiation zone.

To conduct this groundbreaking research, scientists took advantage of data collected from two advanced instruments on the Juno spacecraft, the Advanced Stellar Compass (ASC) and the Stellar Reference Unit with a four-camera system, which help determine the spacecraft's position in space and measure radiation intensity.

ASC data revealed a much stronger radiation environment in the region around Europa's orbit than previously thought, challenging previous understandings of the radiation environment around Jupiter.

The 3D radiation map is not only a major scientific achievement, but also provides important information for future missions to explore Jupiter and its moons.

Europa is one of Jupiter's 95 moons, slightly smaller than Earth's Moon. Like Earth, Europa is thought to have a rocky mantle and an iron core.

According to a study published in the journal Nature Astronomy in March, the moon produces about 1,000 tons of oxygen every 24 hours, enough for 1 million people to breathe every day.

This oxygen could impact the moon's underground ocean, which is thought to contain twice as much water as all the oceans on Earth combined.

NASA plans to launch the Europa Clipper spacecraft in October this year to conduct detailed studies of Europa and investigate the possibility that this icy moon may have suitable conditions for life.

Source: https://nhandan.vn/nasa-phat-trien-ban-do-moi-truong-buc-xa-3d-dau-tien-bao-quanh-sao-moc-post826595.html