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

an icy moon with rugged surface

Underwater snow on Earth could offer insight into Europa's icy crust

By Andrew Jones published

Studying unusual processes of how ice accumulates below ice shelves here on Earth could hold lessons for the exploration and habitability of Jupiter's moon Europa.

This NASA Hubble Space Telescope image shows auroras above the poles of Jupiter.

Extreme physics of 'supercritical' matter may be surprisingly simple

By Stephanie Pappas published

At 'supercriticality,' the difference between the liquid and gas phases of a material seems to disappear. New research finds that this weird tipping point may be simpler than scientists thought.

jupiter with the shadow of a moon on its atmosphere

Moon and Jupiter get together late Sunday night

By Joe Rao published

Check out the king of the planets meeting up with the moon on Aug. 14, throughout most of the night.

Woman and child viewing night sky with a telescope.

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

By Joe Rao published

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

An image of Jupiter taken by the James Webb Space Telescope on July 27, 2022.

Jupiter glows in new James Webb Space Telescope raw image

By Meghan Bartels published

Jupiter always shines, even when seen sideways in unprocessed data.

Colorful storms around the north pole of Jupiter captured by the Juno probe during its close approach to the planet in July 2022.

The north pole of Jupiter has mesmerizing storms, new Juno images reveal

By Tereza Pultarova published

Powerful storms around the North Pole of Jupiter swirl in mesmerizing images captured by NASA's Juno probe during its close approach to the giant planet on July 5.

Jupiter with Saturn-like rings added

Jupiter's rings may be so puny because of the planet's massive moons

By Robert Lea published

New research shows why Jupiter doesn't have thick, bright rings like Saturn's.

Jupiter and its moons Io and Europa

Jupiter's volcanic moon Io may spew sulfur to icy neighbor Europa's surface

By Andrew Jones published

Researchers mapped sulfur dioxide on the backside of Jupiter's moon Europa, revealing the likely origin of this material.

Jupiter against the black backdrop of space. Horizontal bands of orange, brown and beige cover the planet. Blue ribbons of light are auroras at the top of the planet and the Great Red Spot can be seen towards the lower right of the image as a rusty red circle.

Jupiter: A guide to the largest planet in the solar system

By Charles Q. Choi published

Reference Jupiter is the biggest planet in the solar system and has 79 moons. Learn more about the gas giant in our ultimate guide.

sky diagram

Jupiter is now rising in the evening sky. Here's how to spot the king of the night.

By Elizabeth Howell published

Jupiter is starting to rise around midnight, and will even meet up with the moon on Tuesday (July 19).

Jupiter and its moon Europa, left, are seen through the James Webb Space Telescope’s NIRCam instrument 2.12 micron filter.

Jupiter, too! New James Webb photos show giant planet's rings, moons and more

By Mike Wall published

The Webb team released some tantalizing photos of Jupiter today (July 14), highlighting the $10 billion telescope's ability to study targets close to home.

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.