Jupiter Found to Be Smaller and Less Round Than Previously Believed

Speedy Summary

• Recent measurements from NASA’s Juno spacecraft reveal that Jupiter is, on average, 8 kilometers smaller in radius than previously thought.
• The gas giant, measured at its 1-bar pressure level (equivalent to Earth’s atmospheric pressure at sea level), has a pole-to-pole diameter of 142,976 kilometers and an equatorial diameter of 133,684 kilometers.
• This data suggests Jupiter is more oblate (flattened at the poles) than prior estimates based on Voyager and Pioneer spacecraft data from over 40 years ago.
• Researchers used radio occultation techniques with Juno’s advanced instrumentation to gather these updated size measurements.

Indian Opinion Analysis
The findings hold significance beyond measuring planetary dimensions; they provide insight into Jupiter’s internal structure and dynamics that influence its overall shape. The use of radio occultation by NASA’s Juno marks a technological advancement compared to earlier methods deployed during Voyager and Pioneer missions four decades ago.Studying a distant planet like Jupiter aids not just global scientific understanding but also enriches India’s space exploration ambitions by validating methods that could be employed in India’s interplanetary programs such as Chandrayaan or future planetary exploration missions.