Today’s Current Affairs: NASA’s Juno Mission Captures Tiny Jovian Moon of Amalthea
NASA’s Juno spacecraft recently captured an image of the moon of Amalthea during its 59th close approach to Jupiter. This tiny ice moon, with a radius of 84 kilometers, challenges conventional theories of moon formation with its shape resembling a potato. Amalthea orbits within Jupiter’s powerful magnetic field and is considered the reddest object in the Solar System, radiating more heat than it receives from the Sun.
The Galileo spacecraft previously revealed surface features of Amalthea, showing it to be a loose pile of ice and rock. This moon’s composition contradicts expectations for moons orbiting close to gas giants. Amalthea was discovered in 1892 and named after the goat in Greek mythology that nursed infant Zeus. It remains a fascinating object of study in our solar system.
1. What is the reddest object in the Solar System?
– A. Jupiter
– B. Amalthea
– C. Saturn
– D. Mars
Answer: B. Amalthea
2. When was Amalthea discovered?
– A. 1892
– B. 1900
– C. 2000
– D. 1800
Answer: A. 1892
3. What challenges conventional theories of moon formation?
– A. Io
– B. Europa
– C. Ganymede
– D. Amalthea
Answer: D. Amalthea
The moon of Amalthea
The moon of Amalthea is a loose icy pile of rubble that has a lower density than water. It challenges conventional theories of moon formation and was captured by the Juno mission.
Amalthea in front of the Great Red Spot
NASA’s Juno spacecraft captured an image of Amalthea during its 59th close approach. The tiny ice moon has a radius of 84 kilometers and orbits within the orbit of Io. It completes a little more than two laps around Jupiter every Earth day.
The reddest object in the Solar System
Amalthea is the reddest object in the Solar System and radiates more heat than it receives from the Sun. This is believed to be due to its orbit within Jupiter’s powerful magnetic field, which may induce electric currents in the moon’s core.
Discovery and Naming
Amalthea was discovered in 1892 by American astronomer Edward Emerson using a telescope at the Lick Observatory. The moon was named after the goat in Greek mythology that nursed an infant Zeus. It was the last planetary satellite in the solar system to be discovered directly through telescopic observation.
Today's current affairs bring us an exciting discovery from NASA's Juno spacecraft, which captured an image of Amalthea, the reddest object in the Solar System. This tiny ice moon, with a shape similar to a potato, challenges conventional theories of moon formation. Amalthea orbits Jupiter within the orbit of Io and completes more than two laps around the gas giant every Earth day. Scientists suspect that the moon's red hue and heat radiation may be due to Jupiter's powerful magnetic field and tidal stresses. Discovered in 1892, Amalthea was named after the goat that nursed infant Zeus in Greek mythology. This revelation sheds new light on the mysteries of our solar system.
