- NASA's Juno mission reveals Jupiter is 8 kilometers narrower at the equator and 24 kilometers flatter at the poles than previously estimated.
- Scientists refined these measurements using radio occultation data from 13 flybys, a technique precisely gauging Jupiter's internal structure.
- This updated understanding, published in Nature Astronomy, is vital for accurately modeling giant exoplanets beyond our solar system.
- Previous estimates relied on less precise data from the Pioneer and Voyager missions nearly 50 years ago, according to Xinhua.
Juno Redefines Jupiter's Size, Shape
NASA's Juno mission has unveiled a surprising new portrait of Jupiter, revealing the gas giant is 8 kilometers narrower at its equator and 24 kilometers flatter at its poles than previously believed. This precise re-measurement, achieved through 13 radio occultation flybys, is crucial for accurately modeling distant exoplanets and updates decades-old data.
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