NASA Juno mission captures unique green light on Jupiter; Know what it means

A new revelation on Jupiter may help its more detailed studies and new facts may come out. A NASA satellite has detected a green light coming out from the solar system's biggest planet.

The National Aeronautics and Space Administration released a photograph taken by a spacecraft when it was 19,000 ft above the cloud of Jupiter. Scientists have said that the green light is due to the lightning in clouds containing a solution of ammonia and water. On the earth, lightning occurs in clouds containing water vapors. But on Jupiter, it happens due to ammonia and water solution.

The photograph was taken on the Juno mission when the spacecraft completed its 31st flyby on December 30, 2020.


NASA launched its Juno mission to study Jupiter and the satellite began its journey in August 2011. It reached the planet in July 2016 and now it is on an extended mission. It is likely to continue the exploration of Jupiter till 2025.

Juno's mission has studied the composition, magnetic field, and gravitational field. It has also collected data that will help scientists study how Jupiter’s rocks were formed, the wind on the planet, and the amount of water present in its atmosphere. NASA started its Jupiter exploration with a nuclear-powered Galileo orbiter in 1995 and it worked till 2003.

In Greek mythology, Juno was the wife of the god Jupiter.

FAQs:

Q1:What is Juno's mission?
NASA launched a Juno mission to study planet Jupiter. Juno's mission has studied the composition, magnetic field, and gravitational field. It has also collected data that will help scientists study how Jupiter’s rocks were formed, the wind on the planet, and the amount of water present in its atmosphere. NASA started its Jupiter exploration with a nuclear-powered Galileo orbiter in 1995 and it worked till 2003.

Q2:When was the Juno mission launched?
NASA launched its Juno mission to study Jupiter and the satellite began its journey in August 2011. It reached the planet in July 2016 and now it is on an extended mission. It is likely to continue the exploration of Jupiter till 2025.