Images of Jupiter's Dry Spots and Glowing Auroras To Be Unveiled at June 5 Galileo Briefing

PUBLIC INFORMATION OFFICE
JET PROPULSION LABORATORY
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NOTE TO EDITORS                                   June 2, 1997

IMAGES OF JUPITER'S DRY SPOTS AND GLOWING AURORAS TO BE UNVEILED AT JUNE 5 GALILEO BRIEFING

New images from NASA's Galileo mission revealing dry spots and auroral light patterns on Jupiter will be presented at a press briefing on Thursday, June 5, at 11 a.m. Pacific Standard Time. The briefing will originate from NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Pasadena, CA, and will be carried live on NASA Television.

The latest images and data reveal the existence of areas where winds converge and cause clouds and moisture to evaporate, but also indicate that the giant, gaseous planet is not as dry as scientists had believed. This may clear up the controversy which arose after Galileo's probe entered the Jovian atmosphere on Dec. 7, 1995, and found no moisture.

Scientists will also discuss new images and data which show that Jupiter's glowing auroras stretch in a thin, patchy ribbon- like strand near the poles. Scientists believe that despite some similarities, auroras on Jupiter and on Earth are driven by different forces.

NASA Television is available through GE-2, transponder 9C at 85 degrees west longitude, vertical polarization, with a frequency of 3880 Mhz, and audio at 6.8 Mhz.

The new images will be released on the Galileo Internet home page at the following URL:

http://www.jpl.nasa.gov/galileo/

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