Skip to main content

Thank you for visiting nature.com. You are using a browser version with limited support for CSS. To obtain the best experience, we recommend you use a more up to date browser (or turn off compatibility mode in Internet Explorer). In the meantime, to ensure continued support, we are displaying the site without styles and JavaScript.

  • Letter
  • Published:

Jupiter's main magnetic field measured by Pioneer 11

Abstract

THE first in situ studies of the magnetosphere of Jupiter were conducted in November and December, 1973, by the spacecraft Pioneer 10. An analysis of the helium magnetometer data1 indicated that the planetary magnetic field was well represented by an offset tilted dipole (OTD) at distances less than 10Rj. (Rj=radius of Jupiter=71,372 km). But the movement (4.0 gauss Rj3) and tilt (10.6° at λIII=222°) of this model, identified at D2, yielded a field configuration and intensity which were inconsistent with several earlier independently derived estimates obtained from ground based observations of radio emissions2–6.

This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution

Access options

Buy this article

Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Smith, E. J., Davis, L. Jr, Jones, D. E., Coleman, P. J. Jr, Colburn, D. S., Dyal, P., Sonett, C. P., and Frandsen, A. M. A., J. geophys. Res., 74, 3501–3515 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  2. Berge, G. L., Astrophys. J., 191, 775–784 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  3. McCulloch, P. M., and Komesaroroff, M. M., Icarus, 19, 83–86 (1973).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  4. Conway, R. G., and Stannard, D., Nature, 239, 142–143 (1972).

    ADS  Google Scholar 

  5. Carr, T. C., and Gulkis, S., A. Revs. Astr. Astrophys., 7, 577–618 (1969).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  6. Warwick, J. W., Space Sci. Rev., 6, 841–891 (1967).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  7. Mead, G., and Sweeney, R., NASA/GSFC preprint, X-922-74-339 (1974).

  8. Acuna, M., and Ness, N. F., Space Sci. Instrumentation, (in the press).

  9. Chenette, D. L., Conlon, T. F., and Simpson, J. A., J. geophys. Res., 79, 3551–3558 (1974).

    Article  ADS  Google Scholar 

  10. Fillius, R. W., and McIlwain, C. E., ibid, 3589–3599 (1974).

  11. McKibben, R. B., and Simpson, J. A., ibid, 3545–3550 (1974).

  12. Trainor, J. H., McDonald, F. B., Teegarden, B. J., Webber, W. B., and Roelof, E. C., ibid, 3600–3614 (1974).

  13. Teegarden, B. J., McDonald, F. B., Trainor, J. H., Webber, W. R., and Roelof, E. C., ibid, 3615–3622 (1974).

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

ACUNA, M., NESS, N. Jupiter's main magnetic field measured by Pioneer 11. Nature 253, 327–328 (1975). https://doi.org/10.1038/253327a0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/253327a0

This article is cited by

Comments

By submitting a comment you agree to abide by our Terms and Community Guidelines. If you find something abusive or that does not comply with our terms or guidelines please flag it as inappropriate.

Search

Quick links

Nature Briefing

Sign up for the Nature Briefing newsletter — what matters in science, free to your inbox daily.

Get the most important science stories of the day, free in your inbox. Sign up for Nature Briefing