A NASA space probe carrying an instrument developed at the University of Iowa will pass close to Jupiter Monday. The Juno spacecraft will come within 56-hundred miles of the iconic Great Red Spot on the planet. Scientists believe the spot is a 10-thousand-mile-wide storm that has been brewing for 350 years. A research scientist at the University of Iowa, Bill Kurth, says there are basic facts about the red spot, however, scientists don’t understand.
“How deep does this disturbance that has been there for centuries go into the atmosphere? I think that’s an important piece of the puzzle for an atmospheric scientist to have in order to understand the dynamics of storms like that.”
Kurth says cameras aboard Juno will be capturing the closest images ever of the Great Red Spot. He was on the team that developed a radio and plasma wave detector for the mission.
During this hour of River to River, Kurth talks with Emily Woodbury.
We also hear from Alex Murphy about the DNR eliminating it's forestry bureau; IPR's Joyce Russell on new laws taking effect this week; Bob Leonard of KNIA/KRLS in Knoxville/Pella about a fire that destroyed part of downtown in Melcher-Dallas and Lindsey Flannery of Indian Creek Nature Center about a new concert series in their recently opened outdoor amphitheater.