Jupiter's Magnetic Field and Magnetosphere at the Midpoint of Juno's Mapping Mission

Jack Connerney, Ronald Oliversen, Jared Espley, Stavros Kotsiaros, Dan Gershman, Yasmina Martos, John Jørgensen, Peter Jørgensen, Jose Merayo, Troelz Denver, Mathias Benn, Jeremy Bloxham, Kimberly Moore, Scott Bolton, Steven Levin

    Research output: Contribution to journalConference abstract in journalResearchpeer-review

    73 Downloads (Pure)

    Abstract

    The Juno spacecraft was launched in August 2011 and inserted into polar orbit about Jupiter on July 4th, 2016, performing close periJove passes (to ∼1.05 Rj radial distance) every 53 days. The Juno magnetic field investigation is equipped with two magnetometer sensor suites, located at 10 and 12 m from the spacecraft body at the end of one of Juno’s three solar arrays. Each contains a vector fluxgate magnetometer (FGM) sensor and a pair of colocated non-magnetic star tracker camera heads that provide accurate attitude determination for the FGM sensors. Observations acquired within ∼7 Rj of Jupiter during the first 9 polar passes led to a detailed (spherical harmonic of degree and order 10) magnetic field model (JRM09), providing the first detailed view of a planetary dynamo beyond Earth’s. The Jovian magnetic field is unlike anything previously imagined, evidencing a complexity that portends great insight into the dynamo process in general and the dynamics of Jupiter’s interior in particular. A dramatic hemispherical asymmetry is evidenced in a very non-dipolar magnetic field in the northern hemisphere, and a dipolar magnetic field south of the equator, where an enigmatic “Great Blue Spot” resides within an equatorial band of opposite polarity. Jupiter’s magnetic field is likely sculpted by differential rotation of its belts and zones, extending to depths (few thousand km) where the electrical conductivity of its molecular hydrogen atmosphere grips field lines. With 16 equally spaced longitudes now available we can begin to address secular variation of the main field, the systematic mapping of Birkeland currents above the polar aurorae, and magnetodisc variability. These and other developments will be presented with Juno approximately midway through its mission, designed to collect a global map with 32 polar orbits separated by <12° longitude.
    Original languageEnglish
    Article numberEGU2019-5959
    JournalGeophysical Research Abstracts
    Volume21
    Number of pages1
    ISSN1607-7962
    Publication statusPublished - 2019
    EventEGU General Assembly 2019 - Vienna, Austria
    Duration: 7 Apr 201912 Apr 2019
    https://www.egu2019.eu/

    Conference

    ConferenceEGU General Assembly 2019
    Country/TerritoryAustria
    CityVienna
    Period07/04/201912/04/2019
    Internet address

    Fingerprint

    Dive into the research topics of 'Jupiter's Magnetic Field and Magnetosphere at the Midpoint of Juno's Mapping Mission'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

    Cite this