Juno Spots a Complex Storm on Jupiter
Explanation:
Some storms on Jupiter are quite complex.
The swirling storm was captured late last month by the NASA's robotic
Juno spacecraft currently orbiting the
Solar System's largest planet.
The
featured image
spans about 30,000 kilometers, making this storm system just about as wide as planet
Earth.
The disturbance rotates counter-clockwise and shows a
cloud pattern that includes light-colored
updrafts
thought to be composed predominantly of
ammonia ice.
These light
clouds
are the highest up and even cast
discernable shadows toward the right.
Juno
will continue to orbit and probe Jupiter over the next few years as it tries to
return data that help us to
better understand Jupiter's atmospheric water abundance and if the planet 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.
