Giant Storms and High Clouds on Jupiter

Discover the universe! Each day a different image or photograph of our universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by an astronomer.

December 29th, 2021.
The featured image shows Jupiter's clouds.
The captured by the Juno spacecraft.
You can see the explanation for more detailed information.

There are giant storms and high clouds on Jupiter.
Kevin M. Gill is the processing and license owner.

Where are these large ovals? The storm clouds on Jupiter are rotating. The lightest clouds visible are the relatively small clouds that dot the lower oval. Light clouds are not small at 50 kilometers across. They are so high up that they cast shadows. The featured image has been processed to make it look better. Large ovals are regions of high pressure that can last for a long time. The Great Red Spot has been on Jupiter for hundreds of years. A better understanding of typhoons and hurricanes can be achieved by studying cloud dynamics on Jupiter.

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Tomorrow's picture is farther along.

Robert Nemiroff is an author and Jerry Bonnell is an editor.
Phillip Newman has specific rights.
NASA has a privacy policy on the internet.
There is a service at NASA.
& Michigan Tech. U.

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Discover the universe! Each day a different image or photograph of our universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by an astronomer.

December 30 of 2021.
See the explanation. Clicking on the picture will bring you to the download page.
The highest resolution version is available.

The tail of a comet.
The image is copyrighted by Daniele Gasparri.

The two panels captured on December 29 in the dark skies of the Atacama desert have a comet at the lower left. Leonard's visible tail has grown as he heads for his perihelion on January 3. The ion tail can be seen for an amazing 60 degrees, with bright Jupiter shining near the horizon at lower right. The long tail of ionized gas has been produced by the material vaporizing from the nucleus of comet Leonard. Flares on the comet's nucleus and buffeting by magnetic fields have resulted in the tail's irregular appearance. The activity of the comet should continue even if it is not close to the Sun. The comet is south of the Solar System's ecliptic plane as it sweeps through the southern constellation Microscopium.

The picture is in space.

Robert Nemiroff is an author and Jerry Bonnell is an editor.
Phillip Newman has specific rights.
NASA has a privacy policy on the internet.
There is a service at NASA.
& Michigan Tech. U.