NASA’s Juno spacecraft, which has been orbiting Jupiter since 2016, captured chaotic clouds and cyclonic storms on Jupiter’s northern hemisphere on May 12, 2024, during its 61st close flyby of the giant planet.
The spacecraft was about 18,000 miles (29,000 kilometers) above Jupiter and at a latitude of about 68 degrees north when the image was taken.
Clouds form on Jupiter due to a process called convection. As the hot gases from Jupiter’s interior rise, they cool and condense into liquid droplets or ice crystals to form clouds.
Now the fast rotation of Jupiter – spins once every 10 hours – creates strong zonal zets and smears its clouds into the familiar banded patterns. When these banded patterns break, turbulent patterns of clouds are seen.
NASA’s Juno spacecraft, which is named after the Roman goddess Juno (the wife of Jupiter), was launched on August 5, 2011.
The spacecraft arrived at Jupiter’s orbit on July 4, 2016, and completed its primary mission in July 2021.
Currently, the spacecraft is on its extended mission, and it will continue its investigation of the solar system’s largest planet through September 2025, or until the spacecraft’s end of life.
The spacecraft has completed its latest 63rd close flyby of Jupiter on July 17, 2024.
Related article: Juno spacecraft spots Jupiter’s tiny moon Amalthea
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