影像版權: NASA, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, Southwest Research Institute
Explanation:
A new spacecraft is headed for the outer Solar System. Named New Horizons, this robotic explorer passed Jupiter last week after being launched only in early 2006. New Horizons is being pulled by Jupiter's gravity to a greater speed toward its next target: Pluto in 2015. During its encounter with Jupiter, New Horizons was able to capture new images of many Jovian moons, Jupiter's complex and ever-changing atmosphere, and Jupiter's Little Red Spot, pictured above. Formed over the past few years from several smaller storms, Jupiter's Little Red Spot survived a near miss with Jupiter's better-known Great Red Spot last year. The above image of Jupiter covers over twice the diameter of the Earth.
Tvashtar Paterae is an active volcanic region of Jupiter's moon Io located near the moon's north pole. It is a series of paterae, or volcanic craters. (Wikipedia)
Tvashtar Paterae 是木星月亮上一塊活火山地帶,它是一連串版快移動和火山的中央。
Release date: May 14, 2007
Credit: NASA/Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory/Southwest Research Institute
資料來源: Scientific American
New Horizons
Department of Physics, NCKU