NASA’s Juno spacecraft has delivered breathtaking images of Jupiter, highlighting the planet’s swirling, multicolored storms and unique moons. During Juno’s 66th close flyby on Oct. 23, the spacecraft approached the planet’s polar regions and captured close-up views of its fifth-largest moon, Amalthea. The raw images collected by JunoCam have been processed by citizen scientists, who have enhanced colors and contrasts to reveal Jupiter’s atmospheric details in a new light.
Spectacular details of Jupiter’s storms revealed
Citizen scientist Jackie Brank processed one of Juno’s most fascinating images, showcasing a region on Jupiter called the Folded Filamentary Region (FFR), which is located near the planet’s subpolar regions. FFRs are known for their complex cloud patterns, which include white billows and fine, thread-like filaments. This recent image shows Jupiter’s stormy atmosphere with emphasis on these fine details, giving scientists and the public a clear view of the planet’s dynamic weather systems.
Juno’s data, which is available online to the public, allows enthusiasts and researchers to adjust image features such as contrast and color balance. This collaborative effort has enabled multiple perspectives on Jupiter’s atmospheric bands, turbulent clouds, and powerful vortices.
Amalthea: Close-up of Jupiter’s unique moon
Juno also took photos of Amalthea, a small, potato-sized moon just 84 kilometers across. In the images processed by Gerald Eichstädt, the white balance was adjusted to separate Amalthea from the blackness of space, giving the moon clear relief. This view of Amalthea, with its rugged, irregular shape, adds to our understanding of Jupiter’s complex satellite system.
Launched in 2016, the Juno mission was originally planned to end in 2021, but its mission has been extended, with the plan to end in September 2025. When its mission ends, Juno will descend into Jupiter’s atmosphere, marking the end of its successful exploration journey. ,
