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Explanation: How complex is Jupiter? NASA's Juno mission to Jupiter is finding the Jovian giant to be more complicated than expected. Jupiter's magnetic field has been discovered to be much different from our Earth's simple dipole field, showing several poles embedded in a complicated network more convoluted in the north than the south. Further, Juno's radio measurements show that Jupiter's atmosphere shows structure well below the upper cloud deck -- even hundreds of kilometers deep. Jupiter's newfound complexity is evident also in southern clouds, as shown in the featured image. There, planet-circling zones and belts that dominate near the equator decay into a complex miasma of continent-sized storm swirls. Juno continues in its looping elliptical orbit, swooping near the huge planet every 53 days and exploring a slightly different sector each time around.
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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: Jupiter
Publications with words: Jupiter
See also:
- APOD: 2025 April 2 Á Jupiter and Ring in Infrared from Webb
- APOD: 2025 March 9 Á Cyclones at Jupiters North Pole
- APOD: 2025 February 16 Á Perijove 11: Passing Jupiter
- Stereo Jupiter near Opposition
- APOD: 2024 November 3 Á Jupiter Abyss
- APOD: 2024 May 19 Á Jupiter Diving
- APOD: 2024 April 21 Á Perijove 16: Passing Jupiter