Jupiter Quest
Join us in observing Jupiter’s synchrotron radiation to uncover the mysteries of its powerful magnetic field and atmospheric dynamics.
Welcome to the Jupiter Quest Campaign!
This GAVRT campaign invites teachers, students, citizen scientists, and space enthusiasts to engage in groundbreaking research on Jupiter, the largest planet in our Solar System. Our mission is to engage participants in real scientific research, enhancing our understanding of the gas giant and its many mysteries.
Jupiter Quest is a collaborative effort that involves monitoring radio emissions from Jupiter to study its atmosphere, magnetic field, and interactions with its moons. By studying Jupiter's inner radiation belts, we further our understanding of its enormous magnetic field.
Photo of Jupiter, the seventh planet in our Solar System, with the shadow of its moon, Europa
Why Study Jupiter?
Jupiter is a key to understanding our planetary formation. Click to expand each section and learn why Jupiter is a focus of scientific research:
Planetary Formation
Jupiter is by far the largest planet in our Solar System, with more than twice the mass of all the other planets combined! Studying Jupiter helps us understand the processes that control the formation and evolution of planets.
GAVRT is interested in a broader understanding of the formation of solar systems. As a gas giant, Jupiter's composition and structure provide insights that strengthen our knowledge of how Jupiter was formed and how it’s related to the formation of the solar system!
Magnetic Field & Radiation Belts
Jupiter has an enormous magnetic field, much stronger than Earth's. In order to understand the processes that generate magnetic fields, we study Jupiter's radiation belts because they are filled with high-energy electrons that help us gain understanding of the electromagnetic field.
Atmospheric Dynamics
Jupiter's radio emissions, known as synchrotron emission, are caused by energetic electrons spiraling along magnetic field lines. Monitoring these emissions provides information about the planet's radiation belts.
How Jupiter Quest Works
Our DSS-13 radio telescope conducts regular observations of Jupiter, capturing data on its radio emissions. These emissions vary over time, providing insights into the planet's magnetic field, atmosphere, and interactions with its moons. The Jupiter Quest campaign focuses on the monitorization of the total synchrotron emission from Jupiter on timescales that range from days to years. The data collected helps us understand high-energy electrons in Jupiter's radiation belts. GAVRT data provide context for Juno microwave radiometer measurements, VLA (Very Large Array) observations, and observations with larger dishes, which, while more detailed, are less frequent than GAVRT observations.Supporting Scientific Research
The Jupiter Quest campaign supports ongoing scientific research by providing data on Jupiter's environment. Our participants' observations help map the magnetic field, analyze radiation belts, and study Jupiter's atmosphere.
- Magnetic Field Mapping: By observing radio emissions, we map the magnetic field of Jupiter, understanding its place in the formation of our solar system.
- Radiation Belt Analysis: Our data helps explore the sources of high-energy electrons in Jupiter's radiation belts.
- Atmospheric Studies: We study how Jupiter's atmosphere using microwave observations that give us valuable information about the dynamics of Jupiter's atmosphere, helping us solve the many puzzles of Jupiter's weather and atmospheric system..
Primary goals for Jupiter Quest:
The Jupiter Quest campaign aims to achieve several key objectives, both educational and scientific.
Scientific Objectives:
- Understand Jupiter's Inner Radiation Belts: Improve knowledge of the high-energy electrons trapped in Jupiter's magnetic field.
- Contribute to Solar System Research: Use GAVRT data to improve the broader understanding of the formation of the solar system.
- Compare Data: Compare GAVRT ground-based data with the data collected at Jupiter by Juno to contribute to our mission of understanding the gas giant.
Educational Objectives:
- Educate on Data Collection and Analysis: Teach citizen scientists how to collect data on synchrotron radiation (high-energy electrons) and develop a better understanding of the electromagnetic field.
- Promote Citizen Science: Teach participants how to examine and report relevant data to scientists for follow-up to support scientific discovery.