Expert opinion Juno space mission special

NASA's Juno spacecraft is due to arrive at Jupiter on 4 July and Jupiter Orbital Insertion (JOI) begins at 8:18 p.m. PDT (4:18am BST on 5 July). You can find out more about the University of Leicester's involvement in this fascinating project on this website and more information on the mission itself can be found on the NASA JOI Online Press Kit.

A microsite with further information about the Juno mission is available here.

Dr Leigh Fletcher from the Department of Physics and Astronomy has written an article outlining the University's long history of involvement in cutting-edge space research over the last five decades.

• Read the full article 'Juno and the University of Leicester' hosted on Think: Leicester here

Dr Fletcher has also written an article for The Conversation discussing the ambitious Juno mission and some of the perils the spacecraft will face on the way to Jupiter.

• Read the full article 'NASA’s Juno arrives at Jupiter to lift its cloudy veil – but first it must survive the hostile environment' hosted on Think: Leicester here

Research postgraduate Rosie Johnson from the Department of Physics and Astronomy has written an article discussing how the Juno mission will provide us with a fantastic opportunity to study the most powerful aurora in the solar system.

• Read the full article 'Jupiter’s aurora: the most powerful Northern lights display in the solar system' hosted on Think: Leicester here

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