Jupiter observations at infrared wavelengths by Juno

Abstract

The Jovian InfraRed Auroral Mapper (JIRAM) [1] on board the Juno [2,3] spacecraft, is equipped with an infrared camera and a spectrometer working in the spectral range 2-5 _m. JIRAM was built to study the infrared aurora of Jupiter and to map the planet's atmosphere in the 5 μm spectral region. Its spectroscopic observations in the 2-5 μm range can be used for studying atmospheric dynamics, clouds and measuring the abundance of certain trace species that are important to atmospheric chemistry, microphysics and dynamics such as water, ammonia and phosphine and for the formation of the infrared aurora like the ion H3+.The instrument has operated during most of the Jupiter flybys since science mission started in August 2016 performing several observations of the of the planet from the equator to poles. Unprecedented views of the polar atmospheric structures and auroras have been observed for the first time thanks special nature of Juno's orbit. We present an overview of the most significant observations done by the instrument since the start of the mission.[1] Adriani A. et al., JIRAM, the Jovian Infrared Auroral Mapper. Space Sci. Rew., DOI 10.1007/s11214-014-0094-y, 2014.[2] Bolton S.J. et al., Jupiter's interior and deep atmosphere: The initial pole-to-pole passes with the Juno spacecraft. Science DOI: 10.1126/science.aal2108, 2017.[3] Connerney J. E.P. et al., Jupiter's magnetosphere and aurorae observed by the Juno spacecraft during its first polar orbits. Science, DOI: 10.1126/science.aam5928, 2017.