Magnetic field of Jupiter and its interaction with the solar wind

Jupiter's magnetic field and its interaction with the magnetized solar wind were observed with the Pioneer 10 vector helium magnetometer. The magnetic dipole is directed opposite to that of the earth with an inclination of 15 deg lying in a system III meridian of 230 deg. The dipole is offset about 0.1 Jupiter radius north of the equatorial plane and about 0.2 Jupiter radius toward longitude 170 deg. There is severe stretching of the planetary field parallel to the equator throughout the outer magnetosphere, accompanied by a systematic departure from meridian planes. The field configuration implies substantial plasma effects inside the magnetosphere, such as thermal pressure, centrifugal forces, and differential rotation.