Some 484 million miles from coronavirus-beleaguered Earth lies the gas giant Jupiter, and its stormy, magnificent atmosphere.
One of the latest images NASA’s Juno spacecraft sent back to Earth shows a view of the planet’s churning northern region. Juno captured it on Feb. 17, during a “close” swing by Jupiter — which means Juno was some 15,610 miles above these clouds.
Jupiter, wow.
Image: NASA/JPL/SwRI/MSSS /
Image processing by Gerald Eichstädt
Of particular interest amid the swirling clouds and spinning storms are the thin, hazy bands, which run from top to bottom in the image.
They are atmospheric particles floating above Jupiter’s famous, tumultuous clouds. “Scientists don’t yet know exactly what these hazes are made of or how they form,” writes NASA.
A full suite Juno’s imagery of Jupiter — “the king of planets” — can be found here.
