Juno is a NASA spacecraft that was launched in 2011 to study the planet Jupiter. The Juno mission is the second spacecraft, after Galileo, to orbit Jupiter, and it is the first solar-powered spacecraft to operate at such a distance from the Sun.
The spacecraft carries a suite of scientific instruments to study Jupiter's atmosphere, magnetic field, and interior structure.
Examples of Juno's scientific findings include:
- The discovery of a massive cyclone at Jupiter's poles, which was not expected based on previous observations.
- The discovery of the existence of a layer of metallic hydrogen at Jupiter's core.
- The finding that Jupiter's magnetic field is much more complex than previously thought and that it is generated by dynamo action deep inside the planet.
- The discovery of a huge amount of water in Jupiter's atmosphere, which provides new insights into the planet's formation and evolution.
The Juno mission aims to provide a better understanding of Jupiter's origin and evolution, its atmosphere and its magnetic field, as well as to study the planet's interior structure and composition. The mission will also provide a deeper understanding of how giant planets form and the role they play in shaping planetary systems.