Spacecraft spots Jupiter’s lightning
From Times Staff and Wire Reports
A NASA spacecraft observed lightning strikes at Jupiter’s poles as it provided insights into the giant planet’s dynamic atmosphere as well as volcanic activity on one of its moons, scientists said.
The New Horizons spacecraft, passing the solar system’s largest planet en route to the dwarf planet Pluto, also snapped images of the tiny rings encircling Jupiter, studied a huge, swirling storm and explored the planet’s long magnetic tail.
New Horizons zipped by Jupiter earlier this year, making its closest pass on Feb. 28, and used the massive planet’s powerful gravity to slingshot itself toward Pluto. The piano-sized robotic probe is expected to reach Pluto in July 2015.
