Your guide to the Giant Red Spot, those large ocean-bearing moons and the conditions which could support life on the planet
The largest and oldest planet in the solar has fascinated and enthralled skygazers on Earth since pre-historic times. From the Giant Red Spot to its large ocean-bearing moons, we know a lot about Jupiter already, but there's still a lot more to discover.
Launched in April 2023 and expected to reach Jupiter by 2031, the European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer is an interplanetary spaceship which will make detailed observations of the giant gas planet and its three large ocean-bearing moons – Ganymede, Callisto and Europa – using a suite of remote sensing, geophysical and in situ instruments. It will also probe the landscape for the conditions which could support life on the planet.
Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies researchers Prof. Caitriona Jackman, Dr. Mika Holmberg and Dr. Corentin Louis discuss the Jupiter mission
In this week's Brainstorm podcast, presenter Ella McSweeney talks to Prof Caitriona Jackman, Adjunct Professor at University of Limerick and Head of the Planetary Magnetospheres Group at Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies, and Dr Mika Holmberg, Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies. They are two of the researchers involved in the project and they discuss the ins and outs of this mission and how it will embelish what we already know about Jupiter.
The credits: this RTÉ Brainstorm podcast series is presented by Ella McSweeney, research is by Hazel O'Leary, the producer is Adrian Carty and it was recorded by Shane Dempsey at Collaborative Studios. RTÉ Brainstorm is edited by Jim Carroll and the assistant editor is Aoife Ryan-Christensen. The series is proudly supported by Taighde Éireann/Research Ireland.
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The views expressed here are those of the author and do not represent or reflect the views of RTÉ
