Jupiter is not what we thought.. Scientists correct its size after 50 years.
Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, has "shrunk" in size. Not literally, but in calculations, thanks to newer, more accurate measurements.
Recent data suggests that Jupiter is smaller and flatter than previously thought.
According to the updated figures, Jupiter's radius at the equator is 71,488 kilometers, while the distance from its center to its north pole is 66,842 kilometers.
This means the planet is narrower by 4 kilometers at the equator and flatter by 12 kilometers at the poles than previously estimated. While this may seem like a small difference for a giant planet like Jupiter, it represents a significant shift in scientific understanding.
"These few kilometers are of great importance," explains Eli Gallant, a scientist at the Weizmann Institute of Science. "The slight change in radius allows our models of Jupiter's interior to better match gravity data and atmospheric measurements."
Previous estimates were based on data collected in the 1970s by the Voyager and Pioneer missions, which used a technique known as radio occultation.
When the probes sent signals to Earth from the far side of Jupiter, some of these waves were refracted by its atmosphere. By analyzing this refracting, the researchers were able to calculate its magnitude.
But the situation changed in 2021, when the Juno probe was placed in an orbit that put it behind Jupiter from Earth's perspective.
This has made it possible to conduct regular measurements of radio occultation, in addition to modern data processing techniques.
In addition, the researchers were able to incorporate recent information about the fierce winds hitting the planet, something that had not been previously taken into account in the calculations.
Although the difference is only a few kilometers, these adjustments improve models of Jupiter's internal structure and help us better understand not only this planet but also other giant gas planets within and outside our solar system.