评论
打印
Back in July 2016, NASA's Juno spacecraft entered orbit around Jupiter.
2016年7月，美国宇航局的朱诺号探测器进入了木星的轨道。
New missions are always exciting, but this one was especially cool because Juno had a different orbit than previous missions to Jupiter.
新的太空任务总会让人感到兴奋，但这个任务尤其引人注目，这是因为朱诺号的轨道与之前进入木星轨道的探测器都不相同。
The spacecraft is looping around the planet's poles, getting as close as 3500 kilometers above the cloud tops
朱诺号是绕着木星的两极旋转，其距离木星的云顶只有3500千米。3500是非常近的距离了，
which is really close when you consider how big Jupiter is.
毕竟木星的体积非常之大。
The mission will keep going for at least another few months, but scientists are already picking apart the data from those super close flybys.
这次任务还要进行几个月才能收尾，不过一些科学家已经开始从朱诺号上获取数据了。
They're studying places we haven't had access to until now, including Jupiter's interior.
这些科学家研究的地方我们至今还未能一窥究竟，其中也包括木星的内部。
And a group of papers published this week in the journal Nature are sharing some of those key findings.
本周《自然》期刊上发表的一些论文分享了科学家的一些主要发现成果。
As a gas giant, Jupiter is mostly made out of fluids. It also rotates pretty quickly, experiencing only 10-hour days.
作为一个周围有大量气体环绕的巨大星体，木星的组成成分几乎都是流体，此外木星转速极快，一天只有10小时。
Because of all that, astronomers expected Jupiter's mass to be distributed pretty uniformly. But that's not the case.
基于上述情况，天文学家认为，木星的质量分布应该十分不均匀，但事实并非如此。
These recent findings from Juno showed us that its mass distribution actually varies depending on the latitude.
最近根据朱诺发回的数据得出这样的结果：木星的质量分布实际上是根据纬度的变化而变化的。
It's caused by streams of fluid, both in Jupiter's atmosphere and in its interior, up to 3000 kilometers below the cloud level.
之所以会这样是因为木星的大气层及其内部存在很多流体，这些流体在云端下面高达3000千米的地方。
We also learned that, below that depth, fluid just doesn't flow the same way.
我们还可以通过这些论文了解到，流体移动的方向不尽相同。
Instead, a mix of hydrogen and helium rotates together, almost like a solid body.
而与之相反的是，氢和氦的混合物却可以在一起转动，就像固体一样。
Of course, because of all the clouds, we can't actually look into Jupiter's interior. That would just be too easy.
当然了，由于存在这些云层，所以我们也无法真正探查到木星的内部，如果能直接探查到内部，那一切都变得很简单了。
Instead, scientists used Juno to measure how Jupiter's gravitational pull changes as the spacecraft performs its flyby.
所以，科学家通过朱诺号来测量木星的引力是怎样随着飞近探测距离的变化而变化的。
As Juno moves around Jupiter, it gets closer to different parts of the planet.
随着朱诺号绕木星环行，朱诺号离木星不同部分的距离更近了。
Those different parts have different amounts of mass, which means gravity there will be a little stronger or weaker.
由于木星的不同部分有不同的质量，所以不同部分对朱诺号产生引力也会有强弱的变化。
That will either cause Juno to speed up or slow down.
这种变化会引起朱诺号运行速度的上升或下降。
Then, scientists can then measure those changes in speed to tell how Jupiter's mass is distributed.
然后，天文学家可以根据速度的变化来判断木星质量的分布情况。
This new Juno data is two orders of magnitude more accurate than previous scans,
朱诺号发回的最新数据有两个量级的指令，要比之前的扫描更加精确，
and it'll help us better model what's happening in Jupiter and in other fluid giants. And there were even more findings, too.
可以帮助我们更好的建模，了解木星等流体星球的情况，还有更多发现哦！
One additional paper reported on the discovery of multiple cyclones in both the north and south polar regions.
还有一篇论文讨论了朱诺号在木星两极发现的许多旋风现象。
Using the infrared JIRAM and optical JunoCam, Juno snapped photos of 15 separate storms, observing them over seven months.
通过木星红外极光绘图仪以及朱诺相机，朱诺号历时7个多月，拍摄了15场不同的风暴。
There were eight storms rotating around one storm in the north, and five rotating around a storm in the south.
木星北部有8场风暴是围着1场风暴转的，南部也有5场风暴是围着1场风暴转的。
They all range between 4000 and 7000 kilometers in diameter, and both sets of storms are arranged like polygons, which is cool.
这些风暴的直径都在4000-7000千米之间，而且无论是北部的还是南部的风暴都呈现多边形的态势，这就很酷了。
Of course, it's still a mystery how they originally formed and how they didn't manage to merge together over the months they were observed.
当然了，我们目前还不知道的是：这些风暴最初是如何形成的，以及它们在朱诺号观测的几个月里怎样保持各自单独的运转。
It just means that there are still a lot more questions astronomers need answers to.
这个结论只是告诉我们：天文学家还需要解答比以往更多的疑问。
And thankfully, Juno is sure to provide many more answers.
不过所幸朱诺号一定可以为我们解答更多的疑问。
In other planetary news, astronomers published a paper in The Astronomical Journal announcing that
下面看看其他行星的消息：天文学家在《天文学期刊》上发表的论文宣布，
a faraway exoplanet has way more water in its atmosphere than we thought.
有一颗遥远外星行星上大气层的水要比我们想象的多很多。
To figure it out, they had to create the most complete atmospheric profile that's possible with current technology.
为了弄明白怎么回事，他们必须要用现有的技术尽可能地建立一个完整的大气剖面。
The planet is WASP-39b, which was discovered back in 2011.
这颗外星行星名为WASP-39b，是我们在2011年发现的。
It's about 700 light-years from Earth and orbits a star with a mass similar to the Sun's, although it's older and a bit cooler.
这颗行星距离地球大概700光年，是一颗恒星的行星，其质量与地球相近，不过它的年龄要比地球更大，温度也比地球更低。
39b's mass is similar to Saturn's, but that's about the only thing they have in common.
39b行星的质量与土星相近，不过这也是它与土星的相近之处了。
The most obvious difference is this planet doesn't have any rings. But it's also much puffier.
它们之间最明显的不同就在于：这颗行星没有行星环，同时，其体积也更大。
It's actually one of the least dense planets ever discovered. It's so puffy because it orbits really closely to its star.
实际上，这颗行星也是人类目前为止发现的密度最低的行星，其体积庞大的原因是它距离自己的主恒星距离十分近。
In fact, it only takes 4 days to complete one orbit! All that intense heat fluffs up a bunch of the planet's matter.
其实，这颗行星公转一圈只需要4天，剧烈的放热现象使这颗行星密度变小。
39b is also tidally locked, which means only one side of the planet ever faces its star.
此外，39b这颗行星还始终受到潮汐的锁定，所以这颗行星只有一面是始终对着它的恒星的。
But powerful winds help move the heat around, so it's fairly evenly distributed.
但是大风会助力驱散热量，所以分布得还是相当均匀的。
The planet has a toasty equilibrium temperature of over 1100 Kelvin.
39b行星上十分温暖，温度均衡，达到1100开尔文以上。
Because 39b doesn't really have any obscuring clouds in its upper atmosphere,
由于39b高空大气的云层不是很厚，
the Hubble Space Telescope could capture a good breakdown of the atmosphere's composition. It did that by looking at starlight.
所以哈勃太空望远镜可以捕捉到该行星大气层组成的具体情况，怎么做到的呢？就是观测它的星光。
Specifically, it looked at light from its host star that traveled through the planet's atmosphere on its way to Earth.
具体来说，就是观测其主恒星发出的光。这些光束会穿过39b的大气层抵达地球。
Different molecules absorb different wavelengths of light, so by looking at the wavelengths of starlight that are missing in the data,
不同的分子会吸收不同波长的光，所以通过观察数据所缺失的星光的波长，
astronomers can tell what kind of gases this atmosphere has, and in what abundance. What Hubble found was a lot of water vapor.
天文学家就能判断出39b的大气层里有何种气体以及其含量多少，哈勃观测到的是很多的水蒸气。
Like, three times more than we find in Saturn's atmosphere, which was totally unexpected.
其含量大概是我们在土星大气层所发现总量的三倍多，这是超乎我们预期的。
They figured they'd find some water, but nowhere near as much as they did. This suggests 39b was pummeled by a lot of icy material when it was forming.
他们只知道自己发现了水，但后来才知道竟然有这么多的水，这表明，39b在形成初期，其表面叠有许多的结冰物质。
Still, based on what we know about planet formation, that would've only been possible if the planet formed much farther from its star than it is now.
这里，根据我们对行星的所知，要实现这一点的唯一可能就是：其形成时距离其主恒星的距离要比现在远很多。
And, like with any good paper, that only brings up more questions. Welcome to science.
而好的论文是不会到此就结束的，接下来一定会提出更多的问题，这就是科学的发展之路。
This study adds to the complex list of ways planets can develop, and it suggests there are a lot of star systems with different stories than ours.
该研究使本就十分复杂的行星演变史变得更为复杂，同时该研究也表明：很多恒星体系的发展史都与地球不一样。
As we collect more data through research like this, we'll just keep learning more. And don't worry, there's more to learn about 39b, too.
我们通过这样的研究收集了更多的数据，从而了解更多，不过别高兴得太早，关于39b，我们也还知之甚少。
When the James Webb Space Telescope finally launches which will hopefully happen next year it'll be able to measure how much carbon 39b has in its atmosphere.
等詹姆斯·韦伯空间望远镜预计明年面世后，我们就能测量39b的大气层里有含有多少碳元素了。
It'll also be able to see which carbon-based molecules that carbon is locked up in.
詹姆斯·韦伯空间望远镜可以观测到哪种以碳为元素的分子冻结了碳元素。
That'll help astronomers pin down where the exactly the planet should've formed relative to its star.
这也可以帮助天文学家确定39b与其主恒星之间的距离本该是怎样的。
By better understanding how other star systems formed, we'll be able to answer questions about our own neighborhood, too.
通过更好地理解其他星系的形成过程，我们也能解答月球形成过程中的疑问。
You might remember that in November, we launched SciShow Finds: a corner of the internet
11月，我们推出了《太空科学秀有待发现之谜》：
where we've collected artifacts of the universe that fill us with wonder.
这部分互联网内容汇总了我们收集关于宇宙以前情况的问题，这些问题让我们充满了好奇。
We were thrilled that you all cared about these special things as much as we did, so we're doing it again.
我们很高兴的是，大家也和我们一样关心这些特殊的事物，所以我们又做了一次这样的事情。
If you're a citizen scientist, I picked out this PocketLab, which is exactly what it sounds like,
如果您也是一位平民科学家的话，我会为您推荐口袋实验室栏目，口袋实验室，顾名思义，
a lab for your pocket that helps you collect data out in the world and draw your own conclusions.
就是一个像口袋一样的实验室，这个实验室可以帮您汇总关于世界的信息，由您自己得出结论。
If you get a PocketLab, please, please let us know about your experiments. We'd love to hear about that.
如果您体验过口袋实验室，请您一定一定要告诉我们您通过它做了怎样的观察，我们乐于倾听您自己的实验。
And longtime SciShow videomaker, Sarah Meismer, has made this beloved lapel pin.
长期以来为我们制作《太空科学秀》视频的萨拉 梅斯梅尔做了这样可爱的胸针。
Get it? Bee-loved? It's a bee. In a heart. Don't bees deserve some more love?
注意我的措辞了嘛？可爱的小蜜蜂哦！是的，就是一只小蜜蜂，不过是圈在心形里的啦，蜜蜂就不能获得更多的爱吗？
Just like last time, we have a limited number of these special finds,
跟上期节目一样，这种特殊发现的数量有限，
so we'll keep them up until we run out or find new special things that foster our love for science.
所以售完即止，或者请大家耐心等待我们下一次的精美小礼品。
So head to SciShowFinds.com to learn more and know that when you buy something from SciShow Finds,
所以登录SciShowFinds.com可以学习更多的知识，同时您在从《太空科学秀有待发现之谜》购买东西的时候
you're supporting the people who make and find these cool things and supporting SciShow!
也是对幕后工作者和《太空科学秀》的支持！
