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Juno space probe captures stunning image of Jupiter's south pole

Jupiter Juno
An image taken by the Juno space craft showing Jupiter's south pole. Credit: AFP/Getty Images

This Nasa image shows an incredibly detailed picture of the surface of Jupiter taken by the Juno spacecraft.

It was taken on February 2, 2017 as the probe flew directly over Jupiter's south pole at an altitude of about 62,800 miles above the cloud tops.

Jupiter Juno
This Nasa image shows Jupiter’s north polar region, taken as Juno passed 120,000 miles away from the planet on Aug. 27, 2016 Credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/SwRI/MSSS

However, plans to offer the device an even more detailed view of Jupiter's surface have been put on hold, after faulty helium valves in it's propulsion system meant it's lifespan would have been reduced its orbit period to just 14 days.

"The decision to forego the burn is the right thing to do -- preserving a valuable asset so that Juno can continue its exciting journey of discovery," Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator for Nasa's Science Mission Directorate in Washington, said.

This Aug. 27, 2016 infrared image provided by NASA shows the southern aurora of Jupiter, captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft. The phenomenon can hardly be seen from Earth due to the position of the two planets. The image is a mosaic of three photographs made as the spacecraft was moving away from the gas giant
This Aug. 27, 2016 infrared image shows the southern aurora of Jupiter, captured by the Juno spacecraft. The phenomenon can hardly be seen from Earth due to the position of the two planets. The image is a mosaic of three photographs made as the spacecraft was moving away from the gas giant Credit: AP

The incredible image was processed by citizen scientist John Landino, and the enhanced color version highlights the bright high clouds and numerous meandering oval storms.

The JunoCam instrument on the spacecraft sends massive amounts of data back to Earth for scientific study.

These data can be viewed and processed into images by anyone interested and many citizen scientists do just that.

Juno is already getting closer to Jupiter than any other probe in history.

 

mage released by NASA on June 30, 2016 
This image released on June 30, 2016, while the Juno probe was on it's way to Jupiter, shows auroras in the gas giant's atmosphere Credit:  AFP/Getty Images

During each orbit, it soars low over Jupiter's cloud tops -- as close as about 2,600 miles -  probing beneath the cloud cover to learn more about the planet's origins, structure, atmosphere and magnetosphere.

Scott Bolton, Juno principal investigator, said: "Juno is providing spectacular results, and we are rewriting our ideas of how giant planets work”.

An artist's rendering of NASA's Juno spacecraft making one of its close passes over Jupiter
An artist's rendering of Nasa's Juno spacecraft making one of its close passes over Jupiter Credit: NASA/EPA

Nasa's Juno mission to Jupiter has been in orbit around the gas giant since July 4, 2016, and takes 53 days to circumnavigate the gas giant.

Juno has successfully orbited Jupiter four times since arriving at the giant planet, with the most recent orbit completed on Feb. 2. Its next close flyby of Jupiter will be March 27.

The Juno spacecraft has spent five years travelling the 1.7 million miles to Jupiter, where it is forced to endure the gas giant's famously turbulent atmosphere.
The Juno spacecraft has spent five years travelling the 1.7 million miles to Jupiter, where it is forced to endure the gas giant's famously turbulent atmosphere. Credit: NASA

 "Juno is healthy, its science instruments are fully operational, and the data and images we've received are nothing short of amazing," Zurbuchen added.

 Juno will continue to operate until at least July 2018, with further study dependent on securing funds.

 

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