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

ESA’s Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft being unpacked at Europe’s Spaceport in French Guiana.

Europe's JUICE Jupiter spacecraft arrives at spaceport ahead of April launch

By Andrew Jones published

The European Space Agency's Jupiter Icy Moons Explorer (JUICE) spacecraft has arrived at Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana for the final preparations for launch.

An illustration of the orbits of Jupiter's moons, not including its newly found 12 moons.

Jupiter now has the most moons in the solar system, beating Saturn thanks to 12 newfound satellites

By Robert Lea published

Jupiter now boasts the largest number of moons orbiting it after scientists discovered another 12 moons, bringing the behemoth's total up to 92.

An image of Jupiter captured by JunoCam during the mission's 48th flyby.

NASA loses more than 200 Jupiter photos after Juno probe camera glitch

By Meghan Bartels published

For the second flyby in a row, a key camera studying Jupiter has struggled to snap photos as usual.

The European Space Agency's JUICE spacecraft entering thermal testing.

Europe's JUICE mission to Jupiter's moons preparing for April 14 launch

By Andrew Jones published

Europe's mission to explore three icy moons of Jupiter is all set to begin its voyage to the outer solar system.

An illustration of the night sky over Earth on Wednesday, Jan. 25 when the moon and Jupiter meet in the night sky.

See the moon meet up with Jupiter tonight (Jan. 25)

By Robert Lea published

On Wednesday (Jan. 25) the moon will meet up with Jupiter in the night sky as the two bodies share the same right ascension and make a close approach to each other.

A visualization of NASA's Juno probe orbiting Jupiter.

NASA's Juno Jupiter probe bounces back from memory glitch

By Tereza Pultarova published

NASA's Jupiter explorer Juno's memory is back online, and most of the precious images of the gas giant and its volcanic moon Io Juno took just before the glitch hit have been salvaged.

An illustration of the surface of Jupiter's moon, Io, the most volcanic body in the solar system

Massive, months-long volcanic eruption roils Jupiter's moon Io

By Robert Lea published

Jupiter's moon Io is the most volcanic body in the solar system, with outbursts occurring yearly. A particularly large volcanic eruption was spotted in the fall of 2022.

An artist's illustration of NASA's Juno spacecraft at Jupiter.

Juno spacecraft recovering its memory after mind-blowing Jupiter flyby, NASA says

By Robert Lea published

NASA's Juno spacecraft is recovering its memory after a download disruption following its December flyby of Jupiter.

virtual telescope project images of planets and stars in december 2022

See the rare 'planet parade' of 5 naked-eye planets in these photos by an astronomer

By Elizabeth Howell published

Clear skies beckoned Wednesday (Dec. 28) in Rome, allowing the Virtual Telescope Project's Gianluca Masi to get busy with a year-end broadcast.

montage New Horizons images of Jupiter and Io

Jupiter's 10 most massive mysteries

By Elizabeth Howell published

Reference Jupiter has come under close spacecraft scrutiny for more than 50 years. But the gas giant still has a host of secrets.

Sky map of the moon near Saturn on Dec. 26, 2022 in the southwestern sky.

See Saturn near the moon in a late Christmas gift in the night sky tonight (Dec. 26)

By Robert Lea published

The moon will visit Saturn for the last time of 2022 on Monday (Dec. 26) in a parting Christmas gift in a twilight conjunction that will disappear from view before night sets in.

This NASA sky map shows the locations of the moon, Jupiter, Saturn, Venus and Mars after sunset on Dec. 25, 2022.

See the moon and 4 planets align as Jupiter, Saturn, Mercury and Venus offer a rare night sky treat this week!

By Tariq Malik published

The Christmas moon lines up with four bright planets in a celestial holiday treat this week.

A view of Jupiter's moon Europa captured by NASA's Juno mission during its Sept. 29, 2022, close flyby at the moon. The spacecraft was 945 miles (1,500 kilometers) above the moon's surface when the image was taken.

Europa's icy crust may let more material into hidden ocean than thought

By Sharmila Kuthunur published

New research shows that even smaller impacts can warm and soften enough ice on Jupiter's moon Europa to send material sinking into the underlying ocean.

Infrared images of Jupiter taken in 2016 show cooler areas in blue and warmer areas in orange.

Something weird is happening in Jupiter's atmosphere, 40-year study shows

By Tereza Pultarova published

Something odd is happening in Jupiter's atmosphere, a new study has revealed.

A view of Jupiter's moon Europa captured by NASA's Juno mission during its Sept. 29, 2022, close flyby at the moon. The spacecraft was 945 miles (1,500 kilometers) above the moon's surface when the image was taken.

Jupiter moons take center stage in bonus science from NASA's Juno spacecraft

By Rebecca Sohn published

The Juno team got an unexpected opportunity to snatch close glimpses of some of Jupiter's bizarre moons.

Jupiter's volcanic moon Io seen by the Juno probe earlier this year.

NASA probe to inspect the solar system's most active volcanic world, Jupiter's Io

By Tereza Pultarova published

After exploring Ganymede and Europa, NASA's Jupiter probe Juno is about to set its sights on the third of the giant planet's four main moons — the mysterious volcanic moon Io.

two masked people in protective suits work at the bottom of a spacecraft

Europa Clipper instrument delays worry scientists eyeing 2024 launch

By Meghan Bartels published

NASA's bold mission to explore Jupiter's icy moon is facing tight schedules getting instruments installed and ready for the planned 2024 launch.

An illustration of the sky on Dec. 1 showing the conjunction of the moon and Jupiter.

See the moon visit Jupiter in the sky tonight (Dec. 1)

By Robert Lea published

On the first day of December the moon will appear in conjunction with Jupiter, the solar system’s largest planet.

NASA's Juno probe captured this image of Jupiter's atmosphere and the moons Io (above) and Callisto (below) during a close flyby on Nov. 29, 2021.

Juno spacecraft snaps gorgeous photo of Jupiter's atmosphere, 2 big moons

By Andrew Jones published

A flyby of Jupiter by NASA's Juno spacecraft has delivered a stunning image of the gas giant's cloud tops and moons Callisto and Io.

An illustration of the night sky on Nov. 4 depicting a gibbous moon visiting Jupiter in the sky.

See the moon visit Jupiter in the sky on Friday (Nov.4)

By Robert Lea published

Skywatchers will have an excellent opportunity to spot Jupiter on Friday when the moon makes a close approach in the sky to the massive gas giant, the largest planet in the solar system.