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Juno probe gives first close-up look at ‘king of our solar system’

Artist's impression of Juno's flyby.

Artist's impression of Juno's flyby. Photo: NASA

NASA’s Juno space probe has made its closest approach yet to Jupiter during the main phase of its planned mission to the gas giant.

Travelling at 208,000 kilometres per hour, Juno swung within approximately 4,200 kilometres of the solar system’s largest planet at 8.44pm last night (AEST), the closest any spacecraft has passed.

The NASA image of Jupiter's auroras

NASA’s image of Jupiter’s auroras. Photo: NASA

It was the first time Juno’s eight scientific instruments and its camera were switched on, marking the science mission’s start, officials said in a statement on NASA’s website.

“This is our first opportunity to really take a close-up look at the king of our solar system and begin to figure out how he works,” said Scott Bolton, Juno’s principal investigator from the Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio.

Juno first swept close to Jupiter when it entered orbit around the planet early last month after a nearly five-year voyage to help study the solar system’s origins.

Juno Jupiter mission

Juno swung within approximately 4,200 kilometres of Jupiter. Photo: NASA

Juno will now be probing Jupiter’s many layers to measure their composition, magnetic field and other properties.

Scientists hope to learn the source of the planet’s fierce winds and whether Jupiter is made entirely of gas or has a solid core.

They also expect to learn more about the planet’s Great Red Spot, a huge storm that has raged for thousands of years.

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