Lagatar24 Desk
New Delhi: The National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) has once again captivated space enthusiasts with a breathtaking image of Jupiter, showcasing the planet’s chaotic clouds and cyclonic storms. The image, captured by the Juno spacecraft during a close flyby on May 12, offers an unprecedented view of Jupiter’s northern hemisphere.
The color-enhanced image reveals intricate details of cyclonic storms and swirling clouds in what scientists describe as a folded filamentary region. In these areas, the zonal jets that create Jupiter’s iconic banded patterns disintegrate, leading to turbulent cloud structures that rapidly change over a few days. The image features white, blue, and dark orange clouds, with two white circular formations in the center, resembling a face with an open mouth.
NASA shared the image on its social media platforms, noting that it was taken when Juno was approximately 18,000 miles (29,000 kilometers) above Jupiter’s cloud tops, at a latitude of about 68 degrees north of the equator. The post quickly gained over 400,000 likes, with users expressing their awe at the stunning capture.
One user commented, “Astounding capture! Juno’s mission continually reveals Jupiter’s mysteries,” while another said, “The best artist is space.” Others marveled at the similarities between Jupiter and Earth, with one person writing, “Is this Jupiter?! It is very similar to the earth!!!”
NASA highlighted that nine spacecraft have visited Jupiter, with Juno being one of only two to orbit the planet since its arrival in 2016. The agency also reminded followers of Jupiter’s extreme weather conditions, including over a dozen prevailing winds that can reach speeds of up to 335 miles per hour (539 kilometers per hour) at the equator. The Great Red Spot, a massive swirling oval of clouds twice the size of Earth, has been a prominent feature of Jupiter for more than 300 years.
