Discover Jupiter Through the Lens of JunoCam
NASA's Juno spacecraft made its 50th close pass of Jupiter on April 8, 2023. See select JunoCam images processed by citizen scientists since the spacecraft's first orbit in 2016.
By NASA
Credit: NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing by Kevin M. Gill
Juno Launches to Unlock Jupiter's Secrets
On August 5, 2011, NASA’s Juno spacecraft launched on a 5-year journey to our solar system's largest planet – the gas giant Jupiter. Learn more on the mission website.
"Jupiter is the Rosetta Stone of our solar system." -Scott Bolton, principal investigator of Juno from Southwest Research Institute in San Antonio.
Juno at Jupiter's Doorstep
As Juno approached Jupiter in June 2016, the spacecraft's only camera – JunoCam – captured awe-inspiring images of the four large moons orbiting Jupiter. Juno went into orbit on July 4, 2016. Soon, volunteer citizen scientists would begin selecting and enhancing JunoCam images.
"We really are counting on having help from ground-based observers." - Candy Hansen, science team lead for JunoCam.
JunoCam: The Public's Camera at Jupiter
Raw imagery captured by JunoCam is posted on the Juno website, where volunteer citizen scientists can download the data. Citizen scientists then process the images - creating everything from detailed scientific imagery to beautiful art.
Since Juno arrived at Jupiter in 2016, volunteers known as citizen scientists have created over 23,000 deep-space portraits of the Jovian system that are awe-inspiring, and often worthy of further scientific scrutiny.
JunoCam Sees Jupiter's Great Red Spot (2019-07-20) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing by Kevin M. Gill (CC-BY)NASA
Storm on the Horizon
Jupiter's most famous phenomenon, the huge storm known as the Great Red Spot, is seen in this JunoCam image processed by citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill. The image was taken on July 20, 2019.
JunoCam: Jupiter Vortices 2500 (2022-05-07) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing by Brian Swift © CC BYNASA
Striking Swirls
This view shows vortices – hurricane-like spiral wind patterns – near Jupiter's north pole. The image was taken by JunoCam on July 5, 2022, and processed by citizen scientist Brian Swift.
JunoCam Jupiter's Cyclones (2020-02-20) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing by Gerald EichstädtNASA
Jupiter's Cyclones
Cyclones at Jupiter's north pole appear as swirls of striking colors in this exaggerated rendering of a JunoCam image. Citizen scientist Gerald Eichstädt made this composite using JunoCam data gathered between February 17 and July 25, 2020.
Jovian Tempest (2017-11-16) by NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSSNASA
Jovian Tempest
A huge storm rages in Jupiter’s northern hemisphere in this JunoCam image processed by citizen scientists Gerald Eichstädt and Seán Doran. The image was taken during Juno's ninth close flyby of the gas giant planet on October 24, 2017.
Jupiter Color Combo (2022-07-05) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing by Björn Jónsson © CC NC SANASA
Colorful Combo
Juno observed the complex colors of Jupiter's clouds during its 43rd close flyby on July 5, 2022. Citizen scientist Björn Jónsson created two images from JunoCam data. On the left is what the human eye would see. On the right, he has increased color saturation and contrast.
JunoCam Giant Storms and High Clouds (2021-11-29) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing: Kevin M. Gill CC BYNASA
Giant Storms and High Clouds
JunoCam spotted two of Jupiter's large rotating storms on November 29, 2021. This image was taken when the spacecraft was 3,815 miles (6,140 kilometers) over Jupiter. Citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill processed the image to enhance the color and contrast, using raw JunoCam data.
JunoCam: Glancing Back at Jupiter (2019-11-03) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing by AliAbbasiPov, © CC BYNASA
Glancing Back at Jupiter
Just after its close flyby of Jupiter on November 3, 2019, Juno caught this striking view of Jupiter's southern hemisphere as the spacecraft sped away from the giant planet. Citizen scientist Ali Abbasi created this image using data from the spacecraft's JunoCam imager.
JunoCam has produced amazing new images of Jupiter's largest moons. The moons are referred to as Galilean moons in honor of Italian astronomer Galileo Galilei, who first spotted them with a homemade telescope in 1610.
JunoCam Photographs Jupiter's Moon Ganymede (2019-12-25) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing by Gerald EichstädtNASA
Ganymede
Juno is the first mission to directly image this part of Jupiter's moon Ganymede, which is the largest moon in the solar system, larger even than Mercury. Citizen scientist Gerald Eichstädt created this image using data from the JunoCam camera.
JunoCam Ganymede's Close Up (2021-06-07) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing by Kalleheikki Kannisto © CC BYNASA
Ganymede Enhanced
This image of Ganymede was taken by JunoCam on June 7, 2021. Juno came within 645 miles (1,038 kilometers) of Ganymede's surface – closer than any spacecraft in more than two decades. The image was enhanced with help from citizen scientist Kalleheikki Kannisto.
Juno Cam: Jupiter in Ganymede's Shadow (2022-02-25) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing by Thomas Thomopoulos © CC BYNASA
Jupiter in Ganymede's Shadow
During its 40th close pass by Jupiter, Juno saw Ganymede cast a large, dark spot on the planet on February 25, 2022. The image was processed by citizen scientist Thomas Thomopoulos.
Juno Europa Close Up (2022-09-29) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing by Björn Jónsson CC BY-NC-SA 2.0NASA
Europa Close Up
JunoCam took its closest image of Europa at an altitude of 945 miles (1,521 kilometers). Citizen scientist Björn Jónsson processed the image to enhance the color and contrast.
Juno at Io (2023-03-03) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI | Image processing by MSSS/Kevin M. Gill © CC BYNASA
Juno Spots Io
Citizen scientist Kevin M. Gill processed this image of Jupiter’s moon Io – the most volcanically active world in our solar system.
Some citizen scientists were so inspired by the swirls and colors on Jupiter that they made art from JunoCam images.
JunoCam You've Never Seen Jupiter Like This (2017-07-10) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing by Mik PetterNASA
You've Never Seen Jupiter Like This
Artist and citizen scientist Mik Petter created this unique, digital artwork using data from JunoCam. The art form, known as fractals, uses mathematical formulas to create art with an infinite variety of forms, detail, color, and light.
JunoCam: Jovian Close Encounter (2018-10-18) by NASA, JPL-Caltech, SwRI, MSSS | Image processing by Gerald Eichstädt and Sean Doran (CC BY-NC-SA)NASA
Jovian Close Encounter
Swirling clouds in Jupiter's dynamic North Temperate Belt are captured in this image processed by citizen scientists Gerald Eichstädt and Seán Doran. If you would like to see more JunoCam images, or create your own, visit the JunoCam website.
If you would like to see more JunoCam images, or create your own, visit the JunoCam website.
NASA, Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), Caltech, Southwest Research Institute (SwRI), Malin Space Science Systems (MSSS), and Citizen Scientists: Kevin M. Gill, Brian Swift, Gerald Eichstädt, Björn Jónsson, Mik Petter, Seán Doran, David Englund, Ali Abbasi, Thomas Thomopoulos, and Kalleheikki Kannisto.
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