meta_pixel
Tapesearch Logo
Log in
The John Batchelor Show

S8 Ep877: BOB ZIMMERMAN: Probes Europa Clipper and Juice provide a 360-degree view of an interstellar comet, while the Curiosity rover accidentally uncovers unique "brain terrain" and fluted rock formations after a drilling mishap on Mars. (8/16)

The John Batchelor Show

John Batchelor

Arts, Society & Culture, Books, News

4.52.8K Ratings

🗓️ 16 May 2026

⏱️ 7 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

BOB ZIMMERMAN: Probes Europa Clipper and Juice provide a 360-degree view of an interstellar comet, while the Curiosity rover accidentally uncovers unique "brain terrain" and fluted rock formations after a drilling mishap on Mars. (8/16)
AUGUST 1924 CA

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

I'm John Matcher with Bob Zimmerman. He keeps the website behind the black.

0:19.7

The Europa Clipper and Juice are both probes with different missions, but they're looking, well, they just did look at the comet from another mother. I think it's the way we'll put it, Bob.

0:34.1

Yes. So both Europa, Clipper, and Juice are probes to orbit Jupiter. They're on their way to Jupiter.

0:42.1

You know, they've done flybys and they're maneuvering their way too. But their positions at the solar system in November of 25 were very opportunistic.

0:53.1

They were, they were one, Clippel was farther away, out of the solar system,

0:58.5

and Juice was in a part of the solar system,

1:02.1

and in between the two of them was interstellar comet three-eye Atlas.

1:08.0

And so they used the UV instruments, ultraviolet instruments on both Jupiter

1:14.4

probes to look at three eye atlas. And they were getting a 360 degree view because they were

1:20.5

looking at it from opposite directions. They were seeing the whole comet. And they were able to get

1:25.9

good ultraviolet spectroscopy.

1:28.1

And what they found is that there's hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon emissions like you find

1:33.9

on most comet.

1:35.8

So it's still a comet, though it's an interstellar comet.

1:39.1

They also found that, what is it, they found more water there than expected.

1:46.2

And once again, it has differences than our comments, but every comment is unique.

1:50.5

So it has its own unique things.

1:52.1

They will get views from two different directions.

1:54.7

So they got a full 360-d-view of the comment.

1:57.3

It's a clever use of probes that were not intended to do this, John.

2:02.2

Europa Clipper, there was a glitch about the batteries. They launched anyway. What was that,

2:08.0

Bob? Oh, well, we don't know what's going to happen there. It wasn't bad. I don't even remember

...

Please login to see the full transcript.

Disclaimer: The podcast and artwork embedded on this page are from John Batchelor, and are the property of its owner and not affiliated with or endorsed by Tapesearch.

Generated transcripts are the property of John Batchelor and are distributed freely under the Fair Use doctrine. Transcripts generated by Tapesearch are not guaranteed to be accurate.

Copyright © Tapesearch 2026.