In situ and remote observations of the ultraviolet footprint of the moon Callisto by the Juno spacecraft

J Rabia; V Hue; C K Louis; N André; Q Nénon; J R Szalay; R Prangé; L Lamy; P Zarka; B Collet; F Allegrini; R W Ebert; T K Greathouse; B Bonfond; G R Gladstone; A H Sulaiman; W S Kurth; J E P Connerney; P Louarn; E Penou; A Kamran; D Santos-Costa; R S Giles; J A Kammer; M H Versteeg; S J Bolton

doi:10.1038/s41467-025-62520-4

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In situ and remote observations of the ultraviolet footprint of the moon Callisto by the Juno spacecraft

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In situ and remote observations of the ultraviolet footprint of the moon Callisto by the Juno spacecraft

J Rabia, V Hue, C K Louis, N André, Q Nénon, J R Szalay, R Prangé, L Lamy, P Zarka, B Collet, …

Nature communications, Vol.16(1), 7791

09/01/2025

DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62520-4

PMCID: PMC12402282

PMID: 40890092

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Abstract

Jupiter exhibits peculiar multiwavelength auroral emissions resulting from the electromagnetic interactions of Io, Europa, and Ganymede with the magnetospheric plasma flow. Characterizing the faint auroral footprint of the fourth Galilean moon, Callisto, has always been challenging because of its expected weakness and its proximity to Jupiter's bright main aurora. Here, we report on unusual magnetospheric conditions that led to an equatorward shift of Jupiter's main auroral oval unveiling the auroral footprints of the four Galilean moons in a single observation. Remote observations by the Juno spacecraft reveal a double-spot structure, characteristic of the footprints of the other three moons, with a maximum ultraviolet brightness of 137 15 kR. Concurrent observations within Callisto's flux tube reveal field-aligned electrons with a characteristic energy of 10 keV, depositing an energy flux of 55 mW.m in Jupiter's atmosphere. The electron properties are consistent with the triggering of radio emissions with intensities lower than 5 × 10 W.m .Hz .

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Title: Subtitle: In situ and remote observations of the ultraviolet footprint of the moon Callisto by the Juno spacecraft
Creators: J Rabia - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
V Hue - Aix-Marseille Université
C K Louis - Université Paris Cité
N André - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
Q Nénon - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
J R Szalay - Princeton University
R Prangé - Université Paris Cité
L Lamy - Université Paris Cité
P Zarka - Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
B Collet - Aix-Marseille Université
F Allegrini - Southwest Research Institute
R W Ebert - Southwest Research Institute
T K Greathouse - Southwest Research Institute
B Bonfond - University of Liège
G R Gladstone - Southwest Research Institute
A H Sulaiman - University of Minnesota
W S Kurth - University of Iowa
J E P Connerney - Goddard Space Flight Center
P Louarn - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie
E Penou - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie
A Kamran - Institut de Recherche en Astrophysique et Planétologie
D Santos-Costa - Southwest Research Institute
R S Giles - Southwest Research Institute
J A Kammer - Southwest Research Institute
M H Versteeg - Southwest Research Institute
S J Bolton - Southwest Research Institute
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Nature communications, Vol.16(1), 7791
DOI: 10.1038/s41467-025-62520-4
PMID: 40890092
PMCID: PMC12402282
NLM abbreviation: Nat Commun
ISSN: 2041-1723
eISSN: 2041-1723
Publisher: NATURE PORTFOLIO
Grant note: EUR TESS N°ANR-18-EURE-0018 / Agence Nationale de la Recherche (French National Research Agency) A*MIDEX AMX-22-CPJ-04 / Aix-Marseille Université (Aix-Marseille University)
Language: English
Date published: 09/01/2025
Academic Unit: Physics and Astronomy
Record Identifier: 9984958293802771

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