Ganymede MHD Model: Magnetospheric Context for Juno’s PJ34 Flyby

Kavli Affiliate: George Clark

| First 5 Authors: Stefan Duling, Joachim Saur, George Clark, Frederic Allegrini, Thomas Greathouse

| Summary:

On June 7th, 2021 the Juno spacecraft visited Ganymede and provided the first
in situ observations since Galileo’s last flyby in 2000. The measurements
obtained along a one-dimensional trajectory can be brought into global context
with the help of three-dimensional magnetospheric models. Here we apply the
magnetohydrodynamic model of Duling et al. (2014) to conditions during the Juno
flyby. In addition to the global distribution of plasma variables we provide
mapping of Juno’s position along magnetic field lines, Juno’s distance from
closed field lines and detailed information about the magnetic field’s
topology. We find that Juno did not enter the closed field line region and that
the boundary between open and closed field lines on the surface matches the
poleward edges of the observed auroral ovals. To estimate the sensitivity of
the model results, we carry out a parameter study with different upstream
plasma conditions and other model parameters.

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