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

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Artist's depictions of the Juno mission at Jupiter and the InSight lander on Mars.

NASA extends planetary science missions at Mars and Jupiter

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

NASA is ready to give missions at Mars and Jupiter a little more time to continue their investigations, although there's no guarantee they will finish out their extended missions.

The rings of Saturn glide above Jupiter as the two planets pass near Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.

How to watch the rare 'triple conjunction' of Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn tonight

By Brandon Specktor published

Mercury, Jupiter and Saturn will form a tight triangle in the sky this Sunday during a rare 'triple conjunction' event.

Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury as seen shortly after sunset on Jan. 10, 2021.

Don't miss Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury shine in a triple-conjunction this weekend

By Joe Rao last updated

A spectacular gathering of bright planets will be the chief celestial attraction in the evening sky this weekend as Jupiter, Saturn and Mercury appear to crowd into tight quarters.

The rings of Saturn glide above Jupiter as the two planets pass near Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.

Jupiter and Saturn descend on world's tallest building in epic 'Great Conjunction' video

By Brandon Specktor published

A photographer filmed the "Great Conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn as the heavenly bodies passed by Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest building.

In 2020, scientists announced the potential discovery of phosphine in in the clouds of Venus, sparking speculation on its implications for life.

The 10 biggest space discoveries and stories of 2020

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

This year saw a new age of sample-retrieval missions, protests against a telescope, an incredible visit from a dazzling comet and the ''great conjunction'' of Saturn and Jupiter.

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter captured an image of 2020's great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn.

NASA probe snaps 'great conjunction' photo of Jupiter and Saturn from the moon

By Chelsea Gohd last updated

Earthlings weren't the only ones who watched the planets align.

A telescopic view of the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn, on Dec. 21, 2020, as seen from Burnsville, North Carolina.

Rare 'great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn wows skywatchers around the world

By Doris Elin Urrutia last updated

Saturn and Jupiter shared a rare "great conjunction" on Dec. 21 that thrilled skywatchers around the world.

The clouds around some of Jupiter's polar cyclones rotate counterclockwise, while their cores rotate clockwise. The images used for this animation were captured by NASA's Juno spacecraft from altitudes of about 18,000 miles (28,567 kilometers) above Jupiter's cloud tops. Citizen scientist Gerald Eichstädt processed the images to enhance the color and contrast.

NASA's Juno spacecraft sheds new light on 25-year Jupiter 'hot spot' mystery

By Elizabeth Howell last updated

A generation after a NASA spacecraft's probe found an unexpectedly hot and dense atmosphere at Jupiter, a newer agency mission may have some answers to the puzzle.

Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Luray, Virginia.

How to photograph the winter solstice 'great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn tonight

By Chelsea Gohd last updated

NASA has shared some helpful tips for how to photograph the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn on Dec. 21, 2020.

Saturn, top, and Jupiter, below, are seen after sunset from Shenandoah National Park, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2020, in Luray, Virginia.

Don't miss the winter solstice 'great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn tonight!

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

This year, the planets will appear closer to each other than they have in centuries.

Saturn, top, and Jupiter as seen on Dec. 13, 2020, a week before their closest approach, when the two planets may appear as a single point of light.

Watch the winter solstice 'Great Conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn with these webcasts

By Samantha Mathewson last updated

Jupiter and Saturn will align in the night sky today (Dec. 21) in an event astronomers call the "great conjunction," and you can watch it online with a host of webcasts.

A Google Doodle celebrating the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn and the solstice of Dec. 21, 2020.

Celebrate the winter solstice 'great conjunction' with this charming Google doodle

By Meghan Bartels published

Google treated internet searchers around the world to a pair of animated doodles celebrating the "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn and the solstice on Dec. 21.

dec 21, 2020 great conjunction jupiter saturn

'Christmas star' 2020: Here's some fun facts about the 'great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn

By Joe Rao last updated

We are now closing in on the long-awaited night of Dec. 21, when Jupiter and Saturn will engage in their "great conjunction."

On Dec. 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will appear just one-tenth of a degree apart, in an event known as a "great conjunction." The planets will be visible to the naked eye when looking toward the southwest about an hour after sunset.

'Great Conjunction' 2020: NASA tips to see Jupiter and Saturn shine as a 'Christmas Star'

By Samantha Mathewson published

Jupiter and Saturn will align in the night sky on Dec. 21 in an event astronomers call the "great conjunction" marking the planets' closest encounter in nearly 400 years.

This sky map shows the crescent moon with Jupiter and Saturn as seen from New York City on Dec. 16, 2020, at 6 p.m. local time.

Jupiter and Saturn swing by the moon this week ahead of a 'Great Conjunction'

By Joe Rao published

Before the historic "great conjunction" of Jupiter and Saturn on Dec. 21, the planets will have a close encounter with the crescent moon on Wednesday and Thursday (Dec. 16-17).

On Dec. 21, 2020, Jupiter and Saturn will appear just one-tenth of a degree apart, or about the thickness of a dime held at arm's length, according to NASA. During the event, known as a "great conjunction," the two planets (and their moons) will be visible in the same field of view through binoculars or a telescope.

'Great conjunction' of Jupiter and Saturn will form a 'Christmas Star' on the winter solstice

By Doris Elin Urrutia published

Jupiter and Saturn will have their closest encounter in almost 400 years on the solstice (Dec. 21).

On Dec. 21, sky gazers looking just above the horizon will see Saturn and Jupiter appearing very close to one another.

Saturn and Jupiter to almost 'kiss' this winter solstice

By Laura Geggel published

From Earth's perspective, Jupiter and Saturn will appear a moon's distance apart on Dec. 21.

The Jupiter moon Europa, as imaged by NASA's Galileo spacecraft.

Jupiter's ocean moon Europa may spout water plumes from its icy crust

By Mike Wall published

The Jupiter moon Europa may cough water into space from small pockets in its icy crust, a new study suggests.

NASA compiled images taken from the agency's Juno spacecraft to recreate a Jupiter flyby.

Fly over Jupiter in this stunning video from NASA's Juno spacecraft

By Kasandra Brabaw published

What if you could hop a ride on NASA's Juno spacecraft?

This illustration of Jupiter's moon Europa shows how the icy surface may glow on its nightside, the side facing away from the Sun. Variations in the glow and the color of the glow itself could reveal information about the composition of ice on Europa's surface.

Jupiter's ocean moon Europa probably glows in the dark

By Mike Wall published

The icy Jupiter moon Europa is an astrobiological beacon, quite literally glowing in the deep darkness far from the sun, a new study suggests.