Jupiter probe's 'goodbye for now' to Planet Earth

Post Reply
User avatar
Lighthawk
Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Posts: 4632
Joined: Fri May 22, 2009 7:55 pm
Location: Missouri, USA, North America, Earth, Sol System, Orion Arm, Milkyway Galaxy, Local Group, Universe

Jupiter probe's 'goodbye for now' to Planet Earth

Post by Lighthawk »

Left dot, Earth. Right dot, Moon.
Image
Nasa's Jupiter-bound spacecraft imaged the pale blue dot at a distance of 9.5 million km during an early check-out of its camera and other onboard systems.

Juno was launched on 5 August and should arrive at the gas giant in 2016.

This is but a brief farewell. The probe must sweep back by Earth in 2013 for the "gravitational slingshot" that will give it the required speed to chase down Jupiter three years later.

The current plan is for Juno to spend a little over a year at the giant planet, orbiting over its poles.

It will use its remote sensing instruments to look down through Jupiter's atmosphere.

Scientists expect to learn more about its different layers and what precisely lies at the planet's core.

Juno will set a record for the most distant spacecraft powered by solar energy.

Out at Jupiter, the intensity of sunlight is only 1/25th of that at Earth. All previous probes to the gas giant have gone equipped with radioisotope batteries.
Image
Source
Image
Captain Picard's Hair
Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Posts: 4042
Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 3:58 am
Location: Right here.

Re: Jupiter probe's 'goodbye for now' to Planet Earth

Post by Captain Picard's Hair »

Cool. That's one of those pics that put things in a different perspective.
"If you can't take a little bloody nose, maybe you ought to go back home and crawl under your bed. It's not safe out here. It's wonderous, with treasures to satiate desires both subtle and gross... but it's not for the timid." Q, Q Who
Sonic Glitch
Rear Admiral
Rear Admiral
Posts: 6026
Joined: Thu May 22, 2008 2:11 am
Location: Any ol' place here on Earth or in space. You pick the century and I'll pick the spot

Re: Jupiter probe's 'goodbye for now' to Planet Earth

Post by Sonic Glitch »

"All this has happened before --"
"But it doesn't have to happen again. Not if we make up our minds to change. Take a different path. Right here, right now."
RK_Striker_JK_5
3 Star Admiral
3 Star Admiral
Posts: 12986
Joined: Wed Jul 25, 2007 5:27 am
Commendations: The Daystrom Award, Cochrane Medal of Excellence
Location: New Hampshire
Contact:

Re: Jupiter probe's 'goodbye for now' to Planet Earth

Post by RK_Striker_JK_5 »

Sonic Glitch wrote:Consider again, that dot...
Link of win. :D
Post Reply