This Week on Galileo
September 6-12, 1999
The science images and information stored on the tape recorder were acquired during Galileo's encounter with Jupiter and the Galilean moons in mid-August. Data playback is interrupted twice this week. The spacecraft performs standard maintenance on its propulsion systems and onboard tape recorder on Monday and Sunday respectively.
Most of this week's data is returned by the Solid-State Imaging camera in the form of 30 observations. The Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer adds three observations to that total, and the Fields and Particles instruments add one. The data contained in these observations focus primarily on Jupiter's atmosphere, with a few observations looking at Io, Saturn and Jupiter's magnetosphere.
The Solid-State Imaging camera returns 16 of 52 total observations performed during Galileo's last encounter. Five observations of Jupiter returned this week were part of an extensive campaign designed to enable scientists to study the dynamics of cloud motion in Jupiter's atmosphere. The campaign included examining nine different locations on Jupiter's globe and five different atmospheric features. The camera returns seven observations of Io that were part of a campaign of ten observations designed to monitor volcanic plume activity on the fiery moon. The volcanic activity seen in these images will be compared to the measurements of the Io torus taken by the Fields and Particles instruments to determine the relationship between the two. The Io torus is that region of intense plasma and radiation found in the vicinity of Io's orbit. Constantly replenished by the volcanic activity on Io, the torus is a vital part of the Jovian magnetosphere. Two of the highest resolution images obtained to date of Amalthea will also be returned this week. In addition to these observations, the camera returns two distant images of Saturn. The data will be used to calibrate on of the filters on the camera.
One of the three Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer observations contains data describing a spot in Jupiter's atmosphere that is unusually dark compared to other spots. The spot appears to be largely devoid of clouds and warmer than neighboring spots, suggesting to scientists that winds around this feature are travelling in a clockwise direction, unlike the colder Great Red Spot and white ovals that have counter-clockwise winds. This observation will describe the winds near this spot and allow scientists to verify the models that explain this interesting behavior. The Near-Infrared Mapping Spectrometer's remaining two observations are designed to allow scientists to study changes in atmospheric composition and temperature near one of Jupiter's hot spots.
Finally, the Fields and Particles instruments complete the return of their high resolution recording of Jupiter's magnetosphere (plasma, dust, and electric and magnetic fields) and Io torus. The data will contribute to the study of the dynamic processes within the torus in particular and the magnetosphere in general.
Stay tuned! Coming soon is the return of Today on Galileo!
For more information on the Galileo spacecraft and its mission to Jupiter, please visit the Galileo home page.
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