Jupiter, the largest planet in our Solar System, has just been re-measured, revealing that it’s a bit smaller than we thought. Recent findings show its equatorial radius is 71,488 kilometers (44,421 miles), making it 4 kilometers narrower than previous estimates. At the poles, it’s 12 kilometers flatter.
These changes may seem minor, but they matter. “Shifting the radius lets our models fit the gravity data and atmospheric measurements much better,” explains Eli Galanti, a planetary scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science.
Previously, our understanding of Jupiter’s size came from data gathered during NASA’s Voyager and Pioneer missions in the 1970s. They used a method called radio occultation, where signals from space probes were bent by Jupiter’s atmosphere, helping scientists calculate its size.
Fast forward to 2021: NASA’s Juno probe shifted into a new orbit, allowing for more frequent radio occultation measurements. This provided clearer insights into Jupiter’s temperature and density. Maria Smirnova, another planetary scientist at Weizmann, notes, “We tracked how radio signals bend, leading to the best picture yet of Jupiter.”
Interestingly, previous size estimates didn’t account for the powerful winds swirling around the planet. This new research incorporates those effects, leading to more precise measurements.
Even a small change in size can enhance our understanding of gas giants, not just in our Solar System but in others, too. It’s a reminder that science is always evolving, with new insights continuously reshaping our knowledge.
This research was published in Nature Astronomy.
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