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Credit & Copyright: Damian Peach
Explanation:
Two dark shadows loom across the banded and mottled
cloud tops of Jupiter in this
sharp telescopic view.
In fact, captured on January 3rd, about a month after the ruling gas giant
appeared at opposition in planet Earth's sky,
the scene includes the shadow casters.
Visible in remarkable
detail at the left are the large
Galilean moons Ganymede (top)
and Io.
With the two moon shadows still in transit, Jupiter's
rapid rotation has
almost carried its famous
Great Red Spot
(GRS) around the planet's limb from the right.
The pale GRS was preceded by the smaller but similar hued
Oval
BA, dubbed Red Spot Jr., near top center.
North is down in the
inverted image.
Coverage Today: Asteroid Flyby
January February |
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NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings, and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris. Specific rights apply.
A service of: LHEA at NASA / GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
Based on Astronomy Picture
Of the Day
Publications with keywords: Ganymede - Io - transit - shadow
Publications with words: Ganymede - Io - transit - shadow
See also: