Nasa’s Juno spacecraft has shed new light on Jupiter, detailing that the gas giant is slightly smaller than previously believed. Recent data show Jupiter’s equatorial diameter at 88,841 miles (142,976 km), which is about 5 miles (8 km) less than past calculations.
This adjustment in Jupiter’s dimensions, derived from Juno’s high-precision observations, provides important insights into the planet’s interior and atmosphere. Juno’s mission, extended in 2021, allows for fine-tuning measurements via radio signals passing through the planet’s dense atmosphere.
Lead scientist Eli Galanti emphasized the mission’s significance in modeling Jupiter’s size, shape, and atmospheric makeup. Understanding Jupiter’s massive structure is vital for comprehending the solar system’s history, including how volatiles essential for Earth’s life were distributed.