Approaching Jupiter
Explanation:
In 1979 the
Voyager 1 spacecraft compiled this view as it
approached the gas giant
Jupiter.
Snapping a picture every time the
Great Red Spot
was properly aligned, the
above time-lapse sequence shows not only
spot
rotation but also the swirling of neighboring
clouds.
Since
Jupiter takes about 10 hours to rotate,
this short sequence actually covers several days.
Voyager 1 shot past
Jupiter rapidly taking
pictures on which
many discoveries would be made,
including previously unknown
cloud patterns,
rings,
moons, and
active volcanoes on Jupiter's moon
Io.
Voyager is moving so fast that it will one day
leave our
Solar System.
Authors & editors:
Robert Nemiroff
(MTU) &
Jerry Bonnell
(USRA)
NASA Web Site Statements, Warnings,
and Disclaimers
NASA Official: Jay Norris.
Specific
rights apply.
A service of:
LHEA at
NASA /
GSFC
& Michigan Tech. U.
