NASA’s Juno Mission Captures Eerie Flashes of Lightning on Jupiter

NASA’s Juno spacecraft has captured eerie flashes of lightning within Jupiter’s swirling vortex, according to a news article by CNN. The spacecraft observed a green bolt of lightning inside one of the many eddies near Jupiter’s north pole. Scientists are still trying to understand various aspects of Jupiter, including its severe storms and lightning-like events.

Unlike on Earth, where lightning originates from water clouds and most strikes occur near the equator, Jupiter’s lightning bolts originate from clouds of ammonia and water and are most common near the planet’s poles. The Juno spacecraft, which has been observing Jupiter and its moons since 2016, captured the lightning event during its thirty-first close flight of the gas giant on December 30, 2020. The image was taken from a distance of 19,900 miles above the cloud tops.

The article mentions that citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill developed the last photo of Jupiter and its moons using raw data from Juno’s JunoCam instrument. The photo is available online for anyone to process. Juno’s ongoing investigation aims to provide scientists with a greater understanding of Jupiter and its defining characteristics.

Juno’s orbit around Jupiter is gradually getting closer to the planet, allowing for new perspectives and more opportunities to study the gas giant. The spacecraft will also study the gaps between some of Jupiter’s rings to learn more about their origin and formation. Juno is equipped with several instruments that can gather data about Jupiter’s origin, atmosphere, and weather phenomena despite the planet’s thick cloud cover.

Since its arrival, Juno has made more than 50 flybys of Jupiter and has passed three of its largest moons, including Europa, Ganymede, and Io. Upcoming flights in July and October will bring Juno even closer to Jupiter, leading to dual encounters with Io in December and February. These encounters will provide stunning views of Io’s volcanic activity and generate valuable data for further analysis.

Overall, Juno’s extended mission continues to uncover fascinating insights into Jupiter and its complex phenomena, such as lightning, storms, and volcanic activity. The spacecraft’s observations and data collection contribute to our understanding of the largest planet in our solar system.

nasa juno images

NASA’s Juno spacecraft has recently captured remarkable images of lightning within the turbulent atmosphere of Jupiter, as reported by CNN. Unlike on Earth, where lightning is primarily associated with water clouds and is most common near the equator, Jupiter’s lightning originates from clouds of ammonia and water and is most frequently observed near the planet’s poles.

During its thirty-first close flight of Jupiter, which occurred on December 30, 2020, Juno managed to photograph a stunning green bolt of lightning within one of Jupiter’s swirling vortexes near its north pole. The spacecraft was approximately 19,900 miles above the cloud tops when the image was taken.

It is worth noting that the captivating photo of Jupiter and its moons, which showcases the lightning event, was processed by citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill using raw data from Juno’s JunoCam instrument. Gill’s processed image is readily available online for anyone to view.

Juno’s ongoing mission is devoted to unraveling the mysteries of Jupiter and gaining a deeper understanding of its various characteristics. The spacecraft’s ever-closer orbit around the gas giant provides fresh perspectives and increased opportunities for scientific study. In addition to observing lightning and severe storms, Juno is also investigating the gaps between some of Jupiter’s rings to enhance our knowledge of their formation and origin.

Equipped with a range of instruments, Juno is capable of gathering data regarding Jupiter’s origin, atmosphere, and weather phenomena despite the planet’s thick cloud cover. Since its arrival, Juno has successfully completed over 50 flybys of Jupiter and has come within close proximity of its largest moons, including Europa, Ganymede, and Io. Excitingly, upcoming flights in July and October will bring Juno even closer to Jupiter, allowing for dual encounters with Io in December and February. These encounters promise to provide breathtaking views of Io’s volcanic activity and generate invaluable data for further analysis.

In summary, NASA’s Juno spacecraft continues to generate captivating insights into Jupiter and its complex phenomena, including lightning, storms, and volcanic activity. The spacecraft’s observations and data collection efforts significantly contribute to our expanding knowledge of the largest planet in our solar system.