VOA慢速英语:Spacecraft Moving in for Jupiter Close-up(翻译)

Jupiter, our solar system’s largest planet, is about to show its secrets.
木星这颗太阳系最大星球的秘密即将揭开。

On July 4, a NASA spacecraft will enter Jupiter’s orbit and start sending data back to Earth. It will be the first time scientists will be able to see what lies under the planet’s thick atmosphere and clouds.
今年7月4日，美国宇航局的飞船将会进入木星轨道，并向地球发回数据。这也将成为科学家第一次看到木星厚厚的云层下掩藏着怎样的秘密。

People around the world will be able to follow the mission online.
届时，全世界人民都可以观看在线直播了解任务执行情况。

To do so, download software called Eyes on the Solar System from the NASA website.
而看直播只需要从美国宇航局官网上下载一款名为Eyes on the Solar System（观望太阳系）的app即可。

Juno mission
The mission is called Juno, after the spacecraft that will take the pictures.
此次宇航任务名为朱诺，是以此次拍摄照片的宇宙飞船命名的。

Its name tells the story of the mission. Juno was an ancient Roman goddess. In Roman mythology, Juno could see through clouds. Scientists say their Juno’s mission will be to look under Jupiter’s clouds to show its mysteries. Scientists hope to learn what is inside the planet, how it was formed, and other important information.
其名字与本次任务有渊源。朱诺是古罗马的女神。在罗马神话中，朱诺可以看穿云层。科学家称，朱诺此次的任务是穿透云层揭开木星的秘密。科学家希望了解木星内部的情况、组成和其他重要信息。

NASA, America’s space agency, launched the Juno spacecraft five years ago from Florida.
朱诺是美国宇航局五年前从佛罗里达州发射升空的。

NASA announcer: “And liftoff of the Atlas 5 with Juno on a trek to Jupiter, a planetary piece of the puzzle on the beginning of our solar system.”
由于木星一直是太阳系里我们不太了解的存在，所以我们将Atlas 5和朱诺一起朝木星发射。

Finally, on the evening of July 4, Juno will fire its main engine and go into orbit around Jupiter.
For the next 20 months, the spacecraft will circle Jupiter around its poles 37 times and map the whole surface of the planet. Juno will also study the planet’s auroras.
而7月4日晚，朱诺会启动主发动机，正式进入木星轨道。在未来的20个月里，朱诺会环绕木星37次，并绘制出木星表面的情况。此外，朱诺还会研究木星的极光。

But Jupiter presents a hostile environment for the spacecraft. Juno project scientist Steve Levin explains.
但朱诺对宇宙飞船来说环境恶劣。朱诺项目组的科学家史蒂夫解释道。

“Jupiter is the biggest, baddest planet in the solar system, and it's got a bigger magnetic field, bigger aurora, bigger radiation belts, bigger gravity. Everything about it, really, is bigger.”
木星是太阳系体积最大、影响最为恶劣的星球，因其磁场更强、极光更大、辐射圈更大、地心引力更强。

In fact, the radiation is so intense that scientists built a protective vault, or box, to keep the electronics of the spacecraft safe.
无论什么参数都很大。事实上，由于辐射过于强烈，科学家已经研制了保护性结构箱，以保护宇宙飞船的电子系统安全。

“... which is basically a huge titanium box, and we've put all our most sensitive electronics inside the vault to help protect it against the damage that Jupiter would do (to) us.”
这个保护箱体型较大，由金属钛制成，我们已经将所有敏感性的电子设备放在其中，以保护宇宙飞船免于木星的影响。

Jupiter
NASA says it hopes the data from Juno will tell scientists more about the planet's beginnings, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere.
美国宇航局称，其希望从朱诺发回的数据能让科学家对木星的起源、结构、大气层和磁层情况了解的更多。

This is a big job, partly because Jupiter is the largest and most massive planet in our solar system. It contains more than two times the amount of material of all the other bodies orbiting our sun combined, according to NASA. Most of the material left over after the sun was made went to Jupiter and formed what is called a gas giant.
这是个大工程，部分原因是因为木星是太阳系质量最大、体积最大的行星。据美国宇航局称，其物质含量要比太阳系其他星球的总量多。环绕太阳留下的物质来到木星，形成了这个看似由气体构成的星球。

There is no solid surface, but scientists think there may be a solid center, about the size of Earth.
虽然木星没有固体表面，但科学家认为木星内核是固体的，体积和地球差不多。

Colorful cloud bands and spots make a pretty picture of the planet. Jupiter is especially known for the Great Red Spot, a spinning oval of clouds that is much wider than Earth.
木星的云带和点云让其外形惊艳。木星尤以红斑闻名，红斑是不断旋转的椭圆形云，体积大于地球。

NASA says Jupiter’s spots and clouds come from the planet’s fast rotation — it spins around completely in only 10 hours.

NASA says the speed creates jet streams that turn the clouds into bands. Because there is no solid surface to slow them down, Jupiter’s spots and clouds can last a very long time.
美国宇航局称，由于木星旋转速度较大，因此可以产生急流，并将云变为云带。由于木星表面没有固体，因此木星的点云和云带可以持续很长时间。

In addition, NASA says Jupiter has at least 62 moons. Together they form a kind of miniature solar system.
此外，美国宇航局称，木星有至少62个卫星。这62个卫星一起形成了小型的太阳系。

Kevin Hussey is NASA’s Visualization Technology Manager. He says that starting on Monday, you can tune in to see history in the making.
凯文是美国宇航局可视化技术部经理。凯文称，星期一就是大家见证历史的时刻。

“On the night of July 4th, you're going to be able to witness this historic event, the Juno spacecraft being captured by Jupiter into orbit...”
7月4日就能见证朱诺进入木星轨道的历史性时刻。

And that event, scientists hope, may shine light on how our solar system was formed.
科学家希望通过这次任务能启发我们太阳系是如何形成的。
I’m Anne Ball.