In 2011, NASA launched Juno, a spacecraft designed to study Jupiter’s composition and magnetic field. This incredible mission has allowed scientists to learn more about Jupiter and its moons than ever before. On April 8, 2023, Juno completed its 50th close pass by Jupiter, marking a significant milestone for the Juno mission.

Since arriving at Jupiter in 2016, Juno has been taking images and collecting data to help scientists better understand the giant planet. Juno’s JunoCam imager has captured spectacular views of Jupiter, and its large moons Ganymede, Europa, and Io. These images have provided valuable insights that improve our understanding of Jupiter’s composition, structure, and behavior.

The JunoCam imager on board the Juno spacecraft captures images of Jupiter and its moons as it orbits the planet. These images are then sent back to scientists on Earth for analysis. However, the images are not always ready for publication when they arrive, as they often require processing to enhance the details and colors visible in the images. This is where citizen scientists come in.

Citizen scientists are volunteers who process and enhance Juno’s images to create stunning visuals that can be shared with the world. The JunoCam team releases raw images for the public to process, and citizen scientists have created some of the most breathtaking views of the planet from these raw images. NASA has teamed up with Google Arts & Culture to feature a selection of JunoCam images to mark the 50th close pass by Juno.

Juno’s mission has helped scientists understand some of the mysteries surrounding Jupiter, and the images captured have provided valuable information about the planet, including its weather patterns, auroras, and cloud structures. These images have also revealed details about Jupiter’s moons, such as the icy surfaces of Europa and Ganymede and the volcanic activity on Io.

One of the most exciting moments of the Juno mission was when the spacecraft captured images of the Great Red Spot, a massive storm that has been raging on Jupiter for over 350 years. Juno’s images of the Great Red Spot provided scientists with more detailed data about the storm, including its size, shape, and the various gases it contains.

Juno’s instruments have also provided valuable insights into Jupiter’s magnetic field. By studying Jupiter’s magnetic field, scientists can better understand the processes that create magnetic fields in other planets, including Earth. Juno has also captured images of Jupiter’s auroras, which helped scientists understand how Jupiter’s magnetic field works and how it interacts with the planet’s atmosphere.

Juno has also captured incredible images of Jupiter’s sometimes-hidden features. One of Juno’s instruments, the Microwave Radiometer (MWR), has allowed scientists to “see” beneath Jupiter’s thick atmosphere, revealing details about the planet’s internal structure, atmospheric conditions, and even the depths of the planet’s massive storms.

Juno continues to orbit Jupiter and capture images and data that will help scientists better understand this giant planet. As Juno continues its mission, we can look forward to more stunning images and insights into Jupiter’s composition, behavior, and structure.

In conclusion, Juno’s 50th close pass by Jupiter marks a significant milestone for the Juno mission. The stunning images captured by Juno’s JunoCam imager and processed by citizen scientists have provided valuable insights into Jupiter’s composition, structure, and behavior. The Juno mission has helped scientists unravel some of the mysteries surrounding Jupiter and its moons, and the data collected has improved our understanding of this gas giant. We can only imagine what new information Juno will provide as it continues to orbit Jupiter for years to come.

Image credit: NASA/JPL-Caltech/