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It's a tale of two space probes. One, Galileo, has been in orbit
around Jupiter for 5 years and 29 orbits. The other, Cassini,
is en route to Saturn -- but is currently near Jupiter as well.
On December 30th, Cassini made its closest approach to the solar
system's largest planet. Scientists are using the unprecedented
double coverage of Jupiter for several months of intense observation.
We'll talk about the science that has come out of both missions
in recent months, including intriguing findings released at a
meeting of the American Geophysical Union that hint at the possibility
of a thick layer of salty, liquid water under the icy crust of
Jupiter's moon Ganymede. Magnetometer readings say that the water
might be there, and infrared reflectance measurements of minerals
on the surface may show that salty water once leaked up through
cracks in the crust. We'll talk about that evidence, and what
it might mean.
Plus, a conversation with astronomer David Levy about eclipses,
including an upcoming total lunar eclipse on January 9th.
Call in - 1-800-989-8255.
Guests:
Carolyn Porco
Professor, Astronomy
Team Leader, Cassini Imaging Team
CICLOPS / Lunar
and Planetary Laboratory
University of Arizona
Tucson, Arizona
Margaret Kivelson
Principal Investigator, Galileo
magnetometer
Planetary Scientist
University of California at Los
Angeles
Los Angeles, CA
David Levy
Astronomer
Author, "Eclipse:
Voyage to Darkness and Light" (Ibooks, 2000)
Co-discoverer, Shoemaker-Levy comet
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