Today’s Current Affairs: NASA’s Juno spacecraft has discovered a tiny inner moon of Jupiter called Amalthea. The moon, which is just 84 kilometers across, was spotted during the spacecraft’s 59th close flyby of Jupiter. This discovery adds to the fascinating array of moons around Jupiter, with Amalthea being the reddest object in the solar system. Stay tuned for more incredible images as Juno continues its mission.
1. What is the name of the tiny inner moon of Jupiter recently captured by NASA’s Juno spacecraft?
– a) Europa
– b) Ganymede
– c) Callisto
– d) Amalthea
Answer: d) Amalthea
2. Who discovered the tiny inner moon Amalthea?
– a) Galileo
– b) E.E. Barnard
– c) Kepler
– d) Copernicus
Answer: b) E.E. Barnard
3. How far is Amalthea located from Jupiter?
– a) 100,000 kilometers
– b) 150,000 kilometers
– c) 180,000 kilometers
– d) 200,000 kilometers
Answer: c) 180,000 kilometers
4. When did Juno spacecraft arrive at Jupiter?
– a) July 4th, 2016
– b) July 5th, 2016
– c) August 5th, 2016
– d) August 6th, 2016
Answer: b) July 5th, 2016
What did NASA’s Juno spacecraft spot recently?
NASA’s Juno spacecraft recently spotted a tiny inner moon of Jupiter, named Amalthea, during its 59th close flyby of the planet.
When and how was Amalthea discovered?
Amalthea was discovered on the night of September 9th, 1892, by astronomer E.E. Barnard using the refractor telescope at the Lick Observatory. It holds the distinction of being the last moon discovered via direct visual observation.
What is unique about Amalthea in the solar system?
Amalthea is known to be the reddest object in the solar system and is located about 180,000 kilometers from Jupiter. It also undergoes serious tidal flexing due to Jupiter’s immense gravitational field.
What is the current status of NASA’s Juno mission?
NASA’s Juno spacecraft launched in 2011 and arrived at Jupiter in 2016. It is probing the interior of Jupiter and its magnetic environment. Juno will operate until at least September 2025, and the mission has provided valuable insights into Jupiter and its moons.
Today’s current affairs in space exploration bring us exciting news as NASA’s Juno spacecraft has captured images of a tiny inner moon of Jupiter called Amalthea. The images show this small moon passing by the Great Red Spot of Jupiter, giving us a rare glimpse of its 84-kilometer-wide presence. Discovered in 1892, Amalthea is the reddest object in our solar system and is believed to be a captured asteroid in a potato-like shape. With Juno continuing its mission to probe the secrets of Jupiter’s interior, we can expect more incredible images and discoveries in the coming months. This recent find adds to the ever-growing knowledge we have about the fascinating moons of Jupiter.
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