Earth is habitable! A sensational discovery by the European spacecraft JUICE.

Earth is habitable! A sensational discovery by the European spacecraft JUICE.

But seriously, while the probe was performing a gravity assist maneuver before its long journey to Jupiter, it analyzed our planet’s atmosphere. The Submillimeter Wave Instrument (SWI) detected elements essential for life: oxygen, hydrogen, nitrogen, carbon, phosphorus, sulfur, as well as ozone, carbon dioxide, and water. Meanwhile, the Moon and Jupiter Imaging Spectrometer (MAJIS) captured infrared images of Earth’s surface, resulting in detailed temperature maps.

European scientists conducted this work not just for fun but to calibrate the instruments and ensure they are functioning properly.

The GIF shows how SWI scans Earth’s atmosphere.

Safe travels to Jupiter, JUICE!

#space #science