"Earth may be of interest to us, since we live on it, but to an external observer, our Solar System, outside of the Sun, is dominated by Jupiter. In fact, outside of the Sun, Jupiter accounts for 250% as much mass as all other bodies in the Solar System combined. Moreover, Jupiter's major moons contain enormous quantities of water - with three of them having more water than even Earth does - and pose fascinating possibilities in the quest for life beyond our own planet."
"And yet, we've only just barely begun to study Jupiter. Sure, there are two fascinating missions on their way there right now, both scheduled to arrive in the early 2030s: the Europa Clipper mission and the JUpiter ICy moons Explorer (JUICE) mission. But for right now, the mission that paved their way, NASA's Juno mission, is still operating, taking images to scout out the territory, and to teach scientists irreplaceable lessons about spacecraft survival in Jupiter's harsh environment."
Jupiter is the most conspicuous Solar System planet to an external observer because it emits its own infrared radiation, exerts the largest influence on the Sun's wobble, lies far enough from the Sun for direct imaging, and can block more sunlight during a transit than any other planet. Outside the Sun, Jupiter comprises roughly 250% of the mass of all other Solar System bodies combined. Jupiter's major moons contain enormous quantities of water, with three moons holding more water than Earth. Two missions (Europa Clipper and JUICE) target the system in the early 2030s, while NASA's Juno remains operational but faces planned termination later this month.
Read at Big Think
Unable to calculate read time
Collection
[
|
...
]