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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.

Related Topics: NASA, Jupiter

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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 Visible Planets in December's Night Sky: How to See them (and When)

By Joe Rao

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

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.

NASA plans to launch a mission to Jupiter's potentially life-hosting moon Europa, called Europa Clipper, in 2023.

Europa Mission Shouldn't Be Shackled to SLS Megarocket, NASA OIG Says

By Mike Wall

NASA should be free to consider commercial boosters.

Three moons and their shadows move across Jupiter during a rare triple transit on Jan. 24, 2015. Europa is at lower left, Callisto is above and to the right of Europa and Io is approaching Jupiter's eastern limb. Europa's shadow is toward the left side of the image and Callisto's shadow to the right.

Meet Pandia, Eirene and More! 5 Jupiter Moons Get New Names

By Elizabeth Howell

The mighty planet Jupiter has five moons with new names suggested by the public: Pandia, Ersa, Eirene, Philophrosyne and Eupheme.

An image built on ALMA data showing the distribution of ammonia on Jupiter.

Ammonia Storms on Jupiter Are Messing Up Its Picture-Perfect Cloud Bands

By Meghan Bartels

Jupiter's clouds are a beautiful annoyance, blocking a deeper view by scientists into the gas giant — a necessary view if they want to understand how the planet works.

NASA plans to launch the Europa Clipper mission in 2023 or 2025.

NASA's Europa Clipper Mission to Jupiter's Icy Moon Clears Big Hurdle on Path to Launch

By Mike Wall

A highly anticipated NASA mission to Jupiter's possibly life-supporting moon Europa remains on track for a mid-2020s launch.

This visualization shows a large asteroid hitting Earth. One new study suggests a new timeline for Earth's early history.

New Timeline for 'Giant Planet Migration' May Rewrite History of Our Solar System

By Chelsea Gohd

The largest planets in our solar system could have drifted away from the sun much sooner than scientists previously thought, one new study suggests.