Important discovery on Jupiter. Impact of the Juno probe

The Juno space probe has made a significant contribution to the exploration of Jupiter, particularly its atmospheric winds. According to NASA, the probe's data reveals that the winds in this gas giant's atmosphere penetrate its interior in a cylindrical fashion, parallel to the rotation axis of the planet.

Since the Juno probe entered the orbit of Jupiter in 2016, it has offered an unprecedented tool for astronomical investigation. Jupiter's unique atmospheric condition always intrigued astronomers and planetary scientists. Thus, the probe allowed for analyses far more precise than those achieved by Earth-based telescopic observations. To date, the Juno probe has flown around Jupiter 55 times, inspecting a variety of areas, including the regions beneath the planet's turbulent clouds.

Scientists have utilized the study of radio waves to gain knowledge about Jupiter's interior. NASA's Deep Space Network ground antennas have been tracking the Juno probe's radio signals during its close approaches to Jupiter. Small speed changes–on the scale of 0.01 millimeters per second–caused by irregularities in Jupiter's gravitational field have been measured.

These deviations provide valuable inputs about the aspects underneath the upper atmospheric layer shrouding the planet. Notably, this method has enabled an estimation of the depth of Jupiter's cloud-top zones and belts, which appear to reach approximately 1,864 miles beneath the surface.

Analyses of wind behavior involve a mathematical technique that models gravitational irregularities and surface elevations on terrestrial planets like Earth. This method was effectively employed to compile a wind map of Jupiter's depths, yielding a resolution enhanced by four times, compared to models drawing on data from earlier probes: Voyager and Galileo.

The measurements align with a model proposed two decades ago, which depicted powerful zonal currents extending from the planet's white and red cloud-top zones and belts, moving inwards. However, instead of radiating in all directions as in a sphere, these zonal currents show a cylindrical pattern aligned with Jupiter's rotational axis.

All 40 gravitational indicators measured by Juno match our previous calculations, says Yohai Kaspi of the Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel, who headed the research.

The Juno probe is currently in its mission's extended phase. Along with Jupiter flybys, it has also completed flybys of Jupiter's moons - Ganymede and Europa. At present, the probe is conducting several flybys of another moon – Io.

The findings of these studies were presented in an article published in "Nature Astronomy".