Misc These Amazing New Pictures Of Jupiter Are The Perfect Weekend Treat

packyderms_wife

Neither here nor there.
http://www.iflscience.com/space/these-amazing-new-pictures-of-jupiter-are-the-perfect-weekend-treat/

These Amazing New Pictures Of Jupiter Are The Perfect Weekend Treat

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Roll up, roll up. The weekend is nearly here, but before we let you go, you’re going to get a cavalcade of glorious Jupiter images as a wonderful treat.

Yes, on October 24 NASA’s Juno spacecraft completed its eighth close flyby of Jupiter, returning some stunning images to Earth like it always does – and no doubt some interesting science too.

On this pass, Juno came within 3,400 kilometers (2,100 miles) of the planet. The transfer of data to Earth was delayed somewhat, however, as our two planets were going through solar conjunction, with the Sun obscuring communications

Now the data is coming in, and citizen scientists have been hard at work processing some of the raw data into glorious vistas of the gas giant. The images include pictures of its storms, swirling patterns, poles, and even a snap of the volcanic moon Io.

Juno is scheduled for its next close flyby of Jupiter on December 16. Until then, you’ll have to make do with these images. And at least they’re rather impressive, eh.


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tanstaafl

Has No Life - Lives on TB
For what it's worth, the camera on Juno isn't considered a primary spacecraft instrument. From what I understand, it was almost an afterthought and its primary purpose is for the PR value. So all those pretty pictures are more for public consumption than for any actual science value. But you never know, maybe a lucky picture will capture an event that was never expected!
 
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