Microwave Radiometer (Juno)
Instrument observing deep into Jupiter's atmosphere / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Microwave Radiometer (MWR) is an instrument on the Juno orbiter sent to planet Jupiter.[2] MWR is a multi-wavelength microwave radiometer for making observations of Jupiter's deep atmosphere.[3] MWR can observe radiation from 1.37 to 50 cm in wavelength, from 600 MHz to 22 GHz in frequencies.[3][4] This supports its goal of observing the previously unseen atmospheric features and chemical abundances hundreds of miles or kilometers into Jupiter's atmosphere.[3] MWR is designed to detect six different frequencies in that range using separate antennas.[5]
MWR views Jupiter's microwave radiation so it can see up to hundreds of miles deep into the planet.[2] In August 2016, as Juno swung closely by the planet MWR achieved a penetration of 200 to 250 miles (350 to 400 kilometers) below the surface cloud layer.[2] MWR is designed to make observations below the cloud-tops, especially detecting the abundances of certain chemicals and determining dynamic features.[3] These depths have not been observed before.[3]
MWR was launched aboard the Juno spacecraft on August 5, 2011 (UTC) from Cape Canaveral, USA, as part of the New Frontiers program,[6] and after an interplanetary journey that including a swingby of Earth, entered a polar orbit of Jupiter on July 5, 2016 (UTC),[7][8]
The electronics for MWR are located inside the Juno Radiation Vault, which uses titanium to protect it and other spacecraft electronics.[4][9][1] The antennas and transmission lines are designed to handle the radiation environment at Jupiter so the instrument can function.[4]