Mark McCaughrean

If you've been following the ESA JUICE Moon-Earth flyby this week, images from the main science camera, JANUS, have now been released 🌗🌏👇

They show more detail in smaller regions than NAVCAM & monitoring cameras, & give a first glimpse at what can be expected when JUICE gets to Jupiter & starts imaging Callisto, Europa, Ganymede, & more.

https://www.esa.int/Science_Exploration/Space_Science/Juice/First_views_from_Juice_s_science_camera

Credit: ESA/JUICE/JANUS
JANUS developed by Leonardo SpA, ASI, INAF, DLR, CSIC-IAA, CEI-Open University
#JUICELEGA #SpaceScience

First views from Juice’s science camera

Since ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (Juice) flew by the Moon and Earth earlier this week, we’ve seen images from its monitoring cameras and we’ve seen images from its navigation camera. Today we reveal the first images from its scientific camera, JANUS, designed to take detailed, high-resolution photos of Jupiter and its icy moons.

Aug 23, 2024 at 3:07pmWeb
Show threadsaarmullerAug 23, 2024
@markmccaughrean Beautiful images! I have a question: is it simple to understand why the fly-by manoeuvre happened during the full moon (as your image with earth in the background did show)? I can easily see that it should be close to that moment, but is it necessarily so close or was this a choice?
Show threadMark McCaughreanAug 23, 2024
@saarmuller To be honest, I'm not sure. Clearly the the overall geometry was designed with that orientation in mind, but whether it was critical that it be at full Moon as opposed to a few days either side, I don't know. Will take a look in the mission analysis document to see if I can glean anything.