Astronomers record small asteroid impacting Jupiter

Astronomers record small asteroid impacting Jupiter

A bright fireball — most likely a small asteroid or a comet — struck Jupiter at 22:39 UTC on September 13, 2021. The impact was seen and captured by astronomers across the world who were observing the ongoing transit of the shadow of Jupiter's moon Io. "A…

First close-up images of Ganymede in more than 20 years

First close-up images of Ganymede in more than 20 years

The first two images from Juno spacecraft's June 7, 2021, flyby of Jupiter’s giant moon Ganymede have been received on Earth. This was the closest any spacecraft has come to this moon in a generation. The photos – one from the Jupiter orbiter’s…

Study reveals key discovery about aurora activity on Jupiter

Study reveals key discovery about aurora activity on Jupiter

A team of international researchers has made a major discovery about aurora activity on Jupiter. Their study supports the previously controversial idea that Jupiter's polar cap is threaded in part with closed magnetic field lines and proves the lights hold clues…

Great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21

Great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn on December 21

A rare great conjunction of Jupiter and Saturn will take place at 18:11 UTC on December 21, with the two planets passing just 6.1 arcminutes (about one-fifth the apparent width of the moon) of each other, as seen from Earth. Coincidentally, the December solstice is…

Researchers solve mysterious storm patterns on Jupiter’s south pole

Researchers solve mysterious storm patterns on Jupiter’s south pole

Since first spotted by NASA's Juno space probe in 2019, a collection of swirling storms arranged in an unusually geometric pattern has been a mystery to most scientists. A new study may have uncovered how the strange weather forms and why the storms behave…

Jupiter a ‘sniper’ flinging dangerous objects toward Earth, study

Jupiter a ‘sniper’ flinging dangerous objects toward Earth, study

Some scientists theorize that Jupiter acts like a giant space shield– due to its tremendous mass, it sucks in or deflects dangerous space objects. However, studies led by American planetary physicist Kevin Grazier demonstrate that the planet is actually a threat…

Water vapor detected on Jupiter’s icy moon Europa

Water vapor detected on Jupiter’s icy moon Europa

Astronomers have long suspected that Europa, Jupiter's moon, holds a salty ocean beneath its thick icy crust that could support life. NASA has confirmed that they have now detected water erupting from geysers on the surface of the moon. An international research…

3D infrared animation of Jupiter’s north pole

3D infrared animation of Jupiter’s north pole

NASA's Juno scientists have unveiled their 3D infrared movie depicting densely packed cyclones and anticyclones that permeate Jupiter’s polar regions, and the first detailed view of a dynamo, or engine, powering the magnetic field for any planet beyond…

Surprisingly erratic X-ray auroras discovered at Jupiter

Surprisingly erratic X-ray auroras discovered at Jupiter

ESA and NASA space telescopes have revealed that, unlike Earth’s polar lights, the intense auroras seen at Jupiter’s poles unexpectedly behave independently of one another. Auroras have been seen in many places, from planets and moons to stars, brown…

Jupiter’s auroras present a powerful mystery

Jupiter’s auroras present a powerful mystery

Scientists on NASA's Juno mission have observed massive amounts of energy swirling over Jupiter's polar regions that contribute to the giant planet's powerful auroras – only not in ways the researchers expected. Examining data collected by the…