Those who are not immersed in astronomy topics are aware of what they hear by ear that Jupiter It is one of the largest planets in the solar system. And it is yes, but a new study It proved that not as much as we thought.
Jupiter is the largest planet in the solar system. It is a gas giant that has a diameter approximately 11 times larger than that of Earth (about 140,000 km) and a mass that exceeds that of our planet by more than 300 times.
On February 2, an international team published in the magazine Nature Astronomy new values derived from 26 probe observations Juno. They found an equatorial diameter of 88,841 miles and a pole-to-pole diameter of 83,067 miles, and attributed the revision to the bending of radio signals as they pass through the planet’s atmosphere.
What did the new measurements change?
Translated: the authors of the study found that the largest planet in the solar system It is somewhat smaller and much flatter than expected. with data from the Voyager and Pioneer probes from the late 1970s. L
The published equatorial figure is approximately 5 miles (8 km) shorter than previous estimate and the distance between poles about 15 miles (24 km) lowerwhich increases the difference between the equator and the poles.
How Juno managed to offer a different view
The adjustment was based on up to 26 new measurements made by Junowhich has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016 and whose mission was extended in 2021. The extended trajectory allowed the spacecraft to fly behind the planet from Earth’s perspective, so that – as the authors explain – the radio signal is blocked and curved by the atmosphere and this allows more precise measurements of the size.
“Textbooks will have to be updated”said Yohai Kaspiof the Weizmann Institute of Scienceand added that “the size of Jupiter did not change, of course, but yes the way we measure it”, a phrase that underlines the methodological nature of the finding.
Scott J. BoltonJuno principal investigator at the Southwest Research InstituteHe explained, “when the ship passes behind the planet, its radio signal is blocked and curved by Jupiter’s atmosphere,” and highlighted that this curvature allows a precise measurement of the planet’s size.
The team used the curvature of radio signals to prepare maps of temperature and atmospheric density and thus draw a more faithful profile of the reduced planet; Unlike previous studies, they also incorporated the effect of zonal winds on the shape.
“It’s hard to see what’s happening beneath Jupiter’s clouds, but the radio data gives us a window into the depth of zonal winds and powerful hurricanes,” Kaspi said, explaining the importance of looking beneath the visible layer to understand the structure.
Eli Galantia scientist who led the research in Kaspi’s group, said adjusting the radius allows interior models to better reconcile gravity data with atmospheric measurements, improving consistency between different lines of evidence.
The authors of the article maintain that, beyond the numerical adjustment, the study contributes information about the formation and evolution of planets: Understanding the internal structure of Jupiter helps to understand how the solar system formed and how planets like Earth emerged, an idea highlighted by researchers.
Those responsible for the work propose that the new figures and the applied method serve as a basis for updating models and teaching materials, and to guide future observations of Jupiter’s atmosphere and internal structure.
