NASA Spacecraft Detects FM Radio Signal Coming From Jupiter’s Largest Moon

An exciting radio signal from outer space has been spotted by the Juno mission.

As the report goes, Juno has intercepted an FM radio signal from the moon. Having seen all the recent news about radio signals from space, can we, for once, hear a confirmation that it is of extraterrestrial origin and actually means something? Unfortunately, this one from Ganymede will not be it since NASA officials are convinced it is of the natural essence. If you need the scientific name, the signal was a “decametric radio emission,” but we actually know it by its much more widespread name – Wi-Fi. The range of the frequency corresponds to that used by our Earthly signals.

FM Radio Signal

The FM radio signal was detected when Juno was orbiting near Jupiter’s polar regions close to the magnetic field that connects with Ganymede. As for the actual source, scientists believe that it was caused by electrons oscillating slower than their normal rate. This process is called cyclotron maser instability.

It has long been known that radio waves exist on Jupiter, but never has such been intercepted from its moons. Although it is not of alien origin, the simple fact that it is the first radio signal from Ganymede makes it no less significant.

Once again, Ganymede proves that it is one of the most mysterious objects in the Solar System. Scientists have made several significant discoveries about the largest moon in our system, putting it high on the scientific list of exploration targets in the past decade.

For example, the Hubble Space Telescope spotted signs of an underground ocean buried under more than 150 kilometers of ice. According to scientific estimates, this ocean could also be ten times deeper than our oceans on Earth. Then, in 2018, the Galileo Probe spacecraft discovered extremely powerful and unusual electromagnetic waves around Ganymede. Known as Chorus waves, such have been detected around the Earth, but the ones around Ganymede surprised scientists with their power.

Anyhow, discoveries like this of the FM radio signal coming from Ganymede prove the importance of the Juno mission and why it should remain in operation for as long as possible. The mission has been extended until 2025 or earlier if there is a system failure. Similar missions have continued for years after the original estimates, and Juno may continue to operate even after 2025. In each case, the final day of the mission, whenever it comes, will be a huge loss for astronomy and science, and it will take years until a similar mission can reach Jupiter’s orbit.

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Sources:

• Griffin, A. (2018, August 07). ‘Extraordinary’ waves spotted coming out of Jupiter’s moon Ganymede.
• Kooser, A. (2021, January 08). Mars InSight and Jupiter Juno missions get NASA extensions for more years of science.
• NASA Extends Exploration for Two Planetary Science Missions. (2021, January 08)
• Louis, C., Louarn, P., Allegrini, F., Kurth, W., & Szalay, J. (2020, October 12). Ganymede‐Induced Decametric Radio Emission: In Situ Observations and Measurements by Juno.
• Ramsey, S. (2015, March 20). Hubble Sees Potential Underground Ocean on Jupiter’s Largest Moon.
• TANGERMANN, V. (2021, January 12). NASA reportedly detects signal coming from one of Jupiter’s moons.