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JADE
Dave McComas describes the set of instruments charged with detecting the electrons and ions that produce Jupiter’s aurora.
JADE
The Jovian Auroral Distributions Experiment (JADE) will work with some of Juno’s other instruments to identify the particles and processes that produce Jupiter’s stunning auroras. It will also help create a three-dimensional map of the planet’s magnetosphere. JADE consists of an electronics box shared by four sensors: three will detect the electrons that surround the spacecraft and the fourth will identify positively charged hydrogen, helium, oxygen and sulfur ions. These sulfur ions are ejected from the volcanoes on Jupiter’s moon Io. When Juno flies directly over auroras, JADE will be able to observe the light show, resolving structures as small as 50 kilometers (30 miles) in size. Considering that the auroras can stretch for tens of thousands of kilometers around the pole, JADE will be able to discern a lot of detail. JADE will also measure the particles that fly out from Jupiter’s poles, spiraling along as they’re guided by the magnetic field. Dr. David McComas of the Southwest Research Institute (SwRI) leads the JADE instrument team. JADE is provided by SwRI.