Scientists may finally be able to uncover what lies beneath the thick cloud that encloses Jupiter.
Juno, a NASA spacecraft sent to study Jupiter, has reached a pinnacle in its journey and has already been collecting data on the planet.
The craft has seven scientific instruments, which will record information about Jupiter’s atmosphere and magnetosphere and send it back to NASA.
As of now, the instruments are turned off so that scientists can focus on getting Juno into orbit, with a close approach to Jupiter not expected until August 27. At that point, the instruments will be turned on so it can collect data.
Leroy Chiao, a retired NASA astronaut said, “It will give us an idea of how much water or how much oxygen is involved in the composition of the planet. It’s going to give us some clues as to whether or not it has a rocky core.”
Juno’s mission will end on Feb. 20, 2018 when the craft is expected to crash into Jupiter.
