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Updated: Aug 3, 2026

Bringing the Visible Universe into Focus with Robo-AO
Published on: February 12, 2013
Earth-Based Observations of the Galileo Probe Entry Site
1G. Orton, J. Friedson, T. Martin, P. Yanamandra-Fisher, Mail Stop 169-237, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91109; J. L. Ortiz, Mail Stop 169-237, JPL, and Instituto de Astrofisica de Andalucia, CSIC, P.O. Box 3004, 18080 Granada, Spain; K. Baines, Mail Stop 183-601, JPL; G. Bjoraker, D. Deming, D. Jennings, G. McCabe, P. Sada, Code 693, NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD 20771; U. Carsenty, DLR Institute for Planetary Exploration, Rudower Chaussee 5, D-12489 Berlin, Germany; F. Colas, Bureau des Longitudes, 75015 Paris, France; A. Dayal and W. Hoffmann, Stewart Observatory, Univ. of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721; P. Drossart and J. Lecacheux, DESPA, Observatoire de Paris-Meudon, 92195 Meudon Cedex, France; E. Frappa and P. Laques, Observatoire Midi-Pyrenees, 65200 Bagneres de Bigorre, France; J. Goguen, Mail Stop 183-501, JPL; W. Golisch, D. Griep, C. Kaminski, J. Hora, Institute for Astronomy, Univ. of Hawaii, Honolulu, HI 96822; C. Hernandez, 9430 S.W. 29 Terrace, Miami, FL 33165; J. Kuhn, H. Lin, J. Varsik, National Solar Observatory, Sunspot, NM 88349; S. Limaye, Space Science and Engineering Center, Univ. of Wisconsin, Madison, WI 53706; T. Momary, 3806 Geology Building, Univ. of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024-1567; D. Parker, 12911 Lerida Street, Coral Gables, FL 33156; R. Puetter, CASS, Univ. of California at San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0111; M. Ressler, Mail Stop 169-506, JPL; G. Reyes, Mail Stop 300-329, JPL; J. Spencer, Lowell Observatory, 1400 Mars Hill Road, Flagstaff, AZ 86001; J. Spitale and S. Stewart, Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, 170-20, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125; J. Warell, Uppsala Astronomical Observatory, Box 515, S-75120 Uppsala, Sweden; W. Wild, Department of Astronomy and Astrophysics, Univ. of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637; G. Fazio, Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory, Cambridge, MA 02138; L. Deutsch, Five College Astronomy Department, Univ. of Massachusetts, Amherst, MA 01003.
The Galileo probe likely entered a rare, dry region of Jupiter
Area of Science:
- Planetary Science
- Atmospheric Science
- Jupiter Studies
Background:
- Jupiter's atmospheric composition and dynamics are key areas of planetary science.
- Understanding cloud cover variations is crucial for atmospheric modeling.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze the atmospheric conditions at the Galileo probe's entry point on Jupiter.
- To correlate visual cloud appearance with atmospheric properties.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of Earth-based observations of Jupiter.
- Interpretation of visual data regarding cloud cover and color.
- Examination of temperature fields in Jupiter's atmosphere.
Main Results:
- The Galileo probe entered a region with significantly less cloud cover and drier conditions than 99% of Jupiter.
- Clouds at the entry site appeared dark at longer wavelengths.
- Jupiter's troposphere and stratosphere exhibit strong longitudinal wave structures in temperature.
Conclusions:
- The Galileo probe's entry site was an atypical region of Jupiter's atmosphere.
- Observed cloud characteristics and temperature structures provide insights into Jovian atmospheric dynamics.
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