Magnetic field conditions upstream of Ganymede | CU Experts

Jupiter’s magnetic field is tilted by ~10º; with respect; to the planet’s spin axis, and as a result the Jovian plasma sheet; passes over the Galilean satellites at the jovigraphic equator twice per; planetary rotation period. The plasma and magnetic field conditions near; Ganymede’s magnetosphere therefore change dramatically every; ~5 hours, creating a unique magnetosphere-magnetosphere; interaction, and on longer time scales as evidenced by orbit-to-orbit; variations. In this paper we summarize the typical magnetic field; conditions and their variability near Ganymede’s orbit as observed by; the Galileo and Juno spacecraft. We fit Juno data from orbit 34, which; included the spacecraft’s close Ganymede flyby in June 2021, to a; current sheet model and show that the magnetospheric conditions during; orbit 34 were very close to the historical average. Our results allow us; to infer the upstream conditions at the time of the Juno Ganymede flyby.

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