Astronomy Picture of the Day - The North and South Jupiter

NASA ^ | 09/14/2016 | (see photo credits)

[ThomasMore]

Astronomy Picture of the Day

Discover the cosmos! Each day a different image or photograph of our fascinating universe is featured, along with a brief explanation written by a professional astronomer.

2016 September 14

The North and South Jupiter
Image Credit: NASA, JPL, Juno Mission

Explanation: A wide, looping orbit brought Juno close to Jupiter on August 27. As the spacecraft swung around the giant planet's poles JunoCam acquired these premier direct polar views, a change from the usual nearly equatorial perspective of outbound spacecraft and the telescopes of planet Earth. The sunlit side of Jupiter's north polar region (left) was imaged about 125,000 kilometers from the cloud tops, two hours before Juno's closest approach. An hour after close approach the south polar region was captured from 94,500 kilometers away. Strikingly different from the alternating light-colored zones and darker belts girdling more familiar equatorial regions, the polar region clouds appear more convoluted and mottled by many clockwise and counterclockwise rotating storm systems. Another 35 close orbital flybys are planned during the Juno mission.

[upchuck]

Juno :)

[Moonman62]

I know that Jupiter as earth’s savior is considered sacrosanct in the astronomical community, if you look at the big picture it just doesn’t hold water

...

Why don’t you publish a paper?

[Vaquero]

Actually my son’s girlfriend who is going for her astrophysics Ph.D. Might be the one to collaborate with. My AA in general studies will be sneered at. Me? I’m just a space and Scifi nut who follows this stuff to the best of my knowledge but understands how action and reaction works....to a point

[TXnMA]

Again, Thank you for taking up the task of posting re APOD!

[JimRed]

I know that Jupiter as earth’s savior is considered sacrosanct in the astronomical community, if you look at the big picture it just doesn’t hold water

So the guys who postulated that theory should have to give back their grants, right?

[ThomasMore]

You’re very welcome! :)

[Vaquero]

Ok. Whatever.

BTW.... In the 4.5 billion years of the solar system I’m sure Jupiter intercepted and either destroyed or deflected thus preventing a massive object from hitting the 3rd planet.

I’m equally sure that in that 4.5 billion years earth was pummeled by ice and rocks that were either A: deflected this way BY Jupiter. Or B completely unaffected by Jupiter, by Jove!

[JimRed]

BTW, giving back their grants was supposed to be a joke...

[Vaquero]

Yeah....I don't GET academia. My wife works with a bunch of these clowns and they are as narcissistic as Obama. Most of them discover/create/invent BUPKIS.
A friend who works at a great southwestern university calls them Academia Nuts. (After the Hawaiian ‘macadamia’)
There quest for more cash and their name published in journals is what has caused the rise of the left’s pseudo scientific religion of GoreBull Worming.

[Slip18]

Just dang! An astrophysicist may become a part of your family, and all of your studies? Great Thanksgiving dinners! Probably already have them, but what a subject!

[Slip18]

Thank you, ThomasMore.

Going right now to look and read today’s newest and brightest — or oldest and dustiest. We just never know with you!

Love this thread!