Explanation:
What would it be like to orbit Jupiter?
The
dramatic featured video depicts just this and was made from images taken by
NASA's
Juno spacecraft currently orbiting the Jovian giant.
Juno recently completed its
sixth pass near
Jupiter during its looping
elliptical six-week orbit.
As the
time-lapse video starts,
alternating dark and light cloud bands passed underneath the spacecraft as it
approaches Jupiter's South Pole.
These clouds contain complex textures involving eddies, swirls,
ovals,
and extended clouds that are have no direct analog from Earth.
As the spacecraft passes
beneath Jupiter,
new cloud patterns devoid of long bands emerge but are again rich with alien swirls
and ovals.
Over the next few years,
Juno
will continue to orbit and probe Jupiter, determine atmospheric water abundance,
and attempt to determine if
Jupiter has a solid surface underneath these fascinating clouds.
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.
