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NASA's Juno mission is exploring Jupiter from orbit, beaming back amazing photos, atmospheric data and other observations about the largest planet in our solar system. The Juno probe launched Aug. 5, 2011 and arrived in orbit around Jupiter on July 4, 2016. It is the farthest space probe ever to be powered by solar arrays. The $1.1 billion mission is expected to run through July 2021, but the science of Jupiter it returns will last a lifetime. Learn more about Juno's Jupiter discoveries here.

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In addition to puzzling science measurements, Juno is taking stunning photos in its tour of Jupiter.

Surprise! There's more water on Jupiter than anyone thought

By Elizabeth Howell

Jupiter appears to have more water than anyone expected.

Artist's concept of the solar system (not to scale).

NASA eyes Venus, bizarre moons of Jupiter and Neptune for low-cost space missions

By Mike Wall

Venus, Jupiter's supervolcanic moon Io and Neptune's big satellite Triton are in NASA's crosshairs.

As November begins, Mercury will be in the western evening sky and swinging sunward towards inferior conjunction on November 11, when the speedy planet will transit the sun. The transit will be visible in whole or in part from westernmost Russia, the Middle East, Europe, Africa, South America, North America (except for the extreme north), most of the Pacific Ocean, and New Zealand. After mid-month, Mercury will return to view with an excellent morning apparition for Northern Hemisphere observers, but a poor one for the Southern Hemisphere. The planet will reach peak visibility at greatest western elongation on November 28. Viewed in a telescope during mornings in November, Mercury's disk will diminish in apparent size and wax in illuminated phase from a thin crescent to a 68% full. Over the same period, the planet will brighten. The old crescent moon will pass north of Mercury on November 24-25.

The brightest planets in February's night sky: How to see them (and when)

By Joe Rao

Here's how to see planets visible in February's night sky.

An ALMA image of the young star HL Tau and the disk of gas and dust surrounding it. Rings in such protoplanetary disks indicate regions of pressure maxima, which could establish boundaries that help shape the developing planetary system.

Jupiter may not have caused our solar system's 'Great Divide' after all

By Mike Wall

One of our solar system's fundamental boundaries may have existed since the very beginning, a new study reports.

An up-close look at the "tiger stripes" on Saturn's moon Enceladus, which is thought to harbor a big ocean of liquid water beneath its icy surface.

If We Find Life on Europa or Enceladus, It Will Probably Be a '2nd Genesis'

By Mike Wall

If there are creatures swimming in the buried oceans of the outer solar system, they're probably not related to us, new research suggests.

A new, smaller cyclone can be seen at the lower right of this infrared image of Jupiter's south pole taken on Nov. 4, 2019, during the 23rd science pass of the planet by NASA's Juno spacecraft.

NASA Spacecraft Spies Huge New Storm on Jupiter After Death-Dodging Maneuver

By Mike Wall

NASA's Juno probe discovered a giant new storm swirling near Jupiter's south pole last month, a few weeks after pulling off a dramatic death-dodging maneuver.

See Venus, Jupiter and the crescent moon in the night sky this Thanksgiving. The trio will be above the southwest horizon in the evenings all week.

Thanksgiving Night Sky 2019: Venus, Jupiter and the Moon Gather for Skywatching Feast

By Joe Rao

This week, Venus and Jupiter are very low in the southwest during the chilly November dusk.

A series of images taken between May and June 2019 capture the reddish extension, or "flaking," observed on the east side of the Great Red Spot.

Jupiter's Great Red Spot Storm Isn't Dying Anytime Soon

By Samantha Mathewson

Despite the apparent shrinkage of clouds in Jupiter's Great Red Spot, the storm itself is still going strong, new research suggests.

An artist's illustration of a plume of water vapor emanating from Jupiter's moon Europa.

The Weird Plumes of Jupiter's Moon Europa Are Spewing Water Vapor

By Mike Wall

The Jupiter moon Europa's elusive and enigmatic water-vapor plumes do indeed seem to be real.

In this image of Jupiter, you can see a jet stream region on the planet's upper hemisphere known as "Jet N3." The region is rich with colorful, swirling patterns. This image was created by citizen scientist Gerald Eichstädt from a raw image taken on May 29, 2019.

Juno Snaps Dazzling Images As It Prepares to Jump Jupiter's Shadow

By Chelsea Gohd

While readying itself to jump Jupiter's shadow, NASA's Juno spacecraft continues to capture the beauty of our distant, gaseous neighbor.

Jupiter's ocean-harboring moon Europa, as imaged by NASA's Galileo spacecraft.

NASA Europa Mission Could Potentially Spot Signs of Alien Life

By Mike Wall

If there's life on Jupiter's ocean moon Europa, an upcoming NASA mission might be able to sniff it out.

An artist's depiction of the Europa Clipper spacecraft at work around Jupiter's moon.

An Algorithm May Be the 1st Thing to See Europa Clipper's Coolest Discoveries from Jupiter Moon

By Meghan Bartels

Spacecraft are great explorers, but they can be frustrating pen pals.

On Oct. 3, 2019, the waxing crescent moon will pass less than 2 degrees from the planet Jupiter. With binoculars or a telescope, you may be able to see Jupiter's four Galilean moons, too.

Moon Will Pay Visits to Jupiter and Saturn This Week. Here's How to See It

By Joe Rao

This week the moon is going to rendezvous with two bright "superior" planets.

An artist's depiction of an asteroid.

Dangerous Asteroids May Be Lurking in Jupiter's Shadow

By Nola Taylor Redd

Asteroids and comets hidden in Jupiter's shadow may be in "safe mode" now, but a small change could send them flying towards Earth.

This image, captured by NASA's Voyager 1 spacecraft, shows a plume rising from Loki Patera, the largest volcano on the Jupiter moon Io.

It's Gonna Blow! Giant Volcano on Jupiter Moon Could Erupt Any Day

By Mike Wall

A giant volcano on the Jupiter moon Io should erupt any day now, a new study suggests.

A view of Io's shadow on the surface of Jupiter captured by NASA's Juno probe.

NASA's Juno Mission Checks Out Epic Io Eclipse on Jupiter

By Meghan Bartels

Don't panic, this isn't a massive hole on Jupiter. All is well on our largest neighbor; NASA's Juno spacecraft just managed to spot the shadow of its moon Io passing over its marbled clouds.

Image of Jupiter processed from images obtained by Ethan Chappel shortly after the impact. An image of the flash produced by the impact has been included at its right location over the color image.

Astronomers Get the Goods on Jupiter-Smacking Space Rock

By Mike Wall

The space rock that whacked Jupiter last month has lost its air of mystery.

jupiter moon io active volcano eruption

Jupiter's Volcanic Moon Io May Not Have a Magma Ocean After All

By Nola Taylor Redd

Io, the most volcanic body in the solar system, may not boast a magma ocean after all.

This sky map shows the moon progressing higher up into the sky each night from Sept. 1 to Sept. 5, leading to its conjunction with Jupiter on Sept. 6.

Jupiter and the Moon Will Perform a Cosmic Cuddle Tonight! How to See It

By Elizabeth Howell

If the sky is clear, you're in for a treat. The solar system's biggest planet — Jupiter — will nestle close to Earth's moon tonight (Sept. 5) for U.S. skywatchers.

An artist's depiction of NASA's Cassini spacecraft flying through plumes shooting out of Saturn's moon Enceladus.

On Icy Moons, Alien Life May Go with the Flow of Ocean Currents

By Meghan Bartels

One of the key determinants of which worlds can host life may lie in the motion of their oceans.