Jupiter

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.

Related Topics: NASA, Jupiter

Latest Updates

artist's depiction

NASA's Europa Clipper may crash into Ganymede, the largest moon in the solar system, at mission's end

By Stefanie Waldek published

The Europa Clipper mission, due to launch in 2024, was originally supposed to crash into Jupiter, but there's been a change of plans.

A view of 5 planets aligned in the morning sky with labels.

You can watch the rare 5-planet alignment in a live webcast for free today

By Elizabeth Howell published

You can watch the five naked-eye planets align for free on a livestream that will be running Sunday (June 26).

Wright Dobbs took this image of the five naked-eye planets from St. Cloud, Florida on June 24, 2022.

See the rare alignment of 5 planets and the moon in this stunning night sky photo

By Elizabeth Howell published

The rare sight of five bright planets lining up with the moon wowed skywatchers around the world Friday and you can still see it this weekend.

the great red spot

Jupiter scientists need your help hunting for storms in stunning photos

By Elizabeth Howell published

Humongous storms on Jupiter are the focus of a new citizen science project hosted on Zooniverse.

Graphic showing a line of planets and the moon across the predawn sky.

Rare alignment of 5 planets peaks Friday as crescent moon joins the parade

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

A rare planetary alignment will peak predawn on Friday (June 24) when the crescent moon joins the party. An alignment like this will not occur again until 2040.

A blue-green planet

On alien worlds, exotic form of ice may transport nutrients to hidden oceans

By Keith Cooper published

Alien life in the deep global ocean of a water world could receive its nutrients through a shell of high-pressure ice around the planet's core.

A simulated true-color view of Jupiter is composed of 4 images taken by NASA's Cassini spacecraft on December 7, 2000.

Scientists find remains of cannibalized baby planets in Jupiter's cloud-covered belly

By Harry Baker published

Jupiter's innards are full of the remains of baby planets that the gas giant gobbled up as it expanded to become the behemoth we see today, scientists have found.

Graphic showing the moon and Jupiter in close proximity in the night sky.

The moon will cozy up to Jupiter early Tuesday morning as it continues its planetary tour

By Daisy Dobrijevic published

The moon will approach Jupiter in the early hours of Tuesday morning (June 21) on the summer solstice. The duo will be visible to the naked eye or through a pair of binoculars.

sky map of five planets

Rare 5-planet alignment comes into better view this week. Here's what to expect.

By Joe Rao published

A rare parade of planets is coming into better view in the second half of June, and even the moon will join the show.

An artist's depiction of Jupiter as seen from the surface of its icy moon Europa.

Jupiter's icy moon Europa will block out a star for lucky skywatchers

By Tom Kerss published

Jupiter's moon Europa is set to obscure a star while being shadowed by its own host planet.

The main body of the Europa Clipper spacecraft arrived at the clean room of JPL in early June 2022.

NASA's Europa Clipper spacecraft takes big step toward 2024 launch

By Andrew Jones published

NASA's Europa Clipper mission is one step closer to starting its journey to Jupiter's icy moon.

NASA sky map of five bright visible planets before dawn in June 2022.

A 'planetary breakup' of 5 planets in the June's big stargazing sight, NASA says

By Samantha Mathewson published

The rare alignment of five naked-eye planets will begin to "break up" as they appear to grow increasingly distant from one another in the morning sky.

NASA's Juno spacecraft imaged Jupiter and Ganymede during the mission's 40th close pass by the giant planet, on Feb. 25, 2022.

Jupiter is a whirling world in stunning (and woozy) footage from Juno spacecraft

By Elizabeth Howell published

Hang on tight as you watch this new footage of Jupiter. This sped-up view shows the perspective of NASA's Juno spacecraft as it flew above the gas giant on April 9.

The five naked-eye planets will be visible in the predawn sky in June 2022.

See 5 planets align in the night sky this month in a rare treat!

By Elizabeth Howell published

A "planet parade" will see all five naked-eye worlds line up in their proper orbital order from the sun in Earth's sky this month.

mother and daughter viewing night sky with a telescope

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

By Joe Rao published

Reference Our June night sky viewing guide tells you which planets are visible in June's night sky and how you can see them.

Sky chart of Jupiter, Mars, Venus and Saturn in the predawn sky in late May 2022.

See Mars and Jupiter shine super-close in the predawn sky this Memorial Day weekend

By Elizabeth Howell published

See Mars and Jupiter appear to practically high-five each other in the early-morning sky this Memorial Day weekend.

Artist's illustration showing a small moon Amalthea in the foreground and Jupiter in the background.

Amalthea: Jupiter’s unusual inner moon

By Stefanie Waldek published

Reference Learn about Jupiter’s weird inner moon Amalthea. It was not only the fifth Jovian satellite to be discovered, but it is also the fifth-largest.

Venus (lower left) and Jupiter during a close conjunction over Rome on May 1, 2022.

Venus and Jupiter shine together over Rome (photo)

By Elizabeth Howell published

A new image captures two planets with ancient significance meeting up over the famous old city of Rome on Sunday (May 1).

The red and stormy planet.

Curious Kids: Will the big storm on Jupiter ever go away?

By Lucyna Kedziora-Chudczer published

The Great Red Spot is like the grandfather of Jupiter's storms. It has been roaming for many, many years — but recently we’ve seen it get smaller.

A diagram showing Venus and Jupiter in conjunction in the predawn sky over Rome, Italy, on May 1, 2022.

Venus and Jupiter shine together overnight, here's how to watch the spectacle live online

By Tereza Pultarova published

Tune into a Virtual Telescope Project livestream to watch live as Jupiter and Venus meet in the night sky.