Jupiter ’s exact typography remains a secret , which is precisely why NASA ’s Juno spacecraft is there . Now , a group of astronomers have found a new approach to appraise the planet ’s chemical composition . In doing so , they have discovered that the accelerator giant might be deep in water .
As reported in theAstronomical Journal , researchers used earth - based observations of Jupiter ’s Great Red Spot to identify chemical signatures of important constituent . By studying the thick cloud of the Spot in infrared , they established the presence of water and carbon copy monoxide . This suggest that Jupiter has between two and nine times more atomic number 8 than the Sun .
The determination of atomic number 8 molecule matches previous models of Jupiter , which suggested abundant body of water in the gas giant . Juno is presently dig into the ambiance of the planet deeper than any premature study and will verify if these findings are right .
" The moons that orbit Jupiter are mostly water sparkler , so the whole neighbourhood has plentitude of water , " team leader Gordon Bjoraker , from NASA ’s Goddard Space Flight Center , said in astatement . " Why would n’t the satellite – which is this immense sobriety well , where everything falls into it – be piss - rich , too ? "
Astronomers have find muckle of circumstantial evidence for a large front of water on Jupiter , but so far they have been stump trying to find lineal substantiation . Researchers believe that the atmosphere of Jupiter has a base layer of H2O ice and liquid water , a middle layer of ammonium hydroxide and S , and a top layer of ammonia .
The team will need to test this feeler using other parts of Jupiter as well . If Bjoraker ’s approach is right , it could even be applied to the other gargantuan planets in the solar system . The precedence though stay Jupiter and an appraisal of its spheric water abundance .
" Jupiter ’s water abundance will enjoin us a lot about how thegiant major planet formed , but only if we can figure out how much body of water there is in the intact major planet , " say Steven M. Levin , a Juno project scientist at NASA ’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory in Pasadena , California .
The chemical composition of Jupiter is all-important in our discernment of how the giant satellite constitute , and may even allow clew on the organisation of other stellar systems .
